fragmentary

adjective

frag·​men·​tary ˈfrag-mən-ˌter-ē 

: consisting of fragments : incomplete

fragmentary evidence

a fragmentary account

fragmentarily

ˌfrag-mən-ˈter-ə-lē 

adverb

fragmentariness

ˈfrag-mən-ˌter-ē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of fragmentary

• incomplete

Examples of fragmentary in a Sentence

discovering fragmentary remains of primitive animals

the historical record of this pharaoh's life and reign is fragmentary at best

Recent Examples on the Web

The story is told in a fragmentary fashion, with short paragraphs that are separated by subheadings. — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026

The Manchester musician’s preference for the fragmentary extends to his approach to genre. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026

Direct archaeological evidence from this critical period in the Levant, the region that now roughly equates to the Middle East and Turkey, is scarce and fragmentary. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Some lives are permitted to remain fragmentary. — Literary Hub, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

fragment entry 1 + -ary entry 2

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fragmentary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

Kids Definition

fragmentary

adjective

frag·​men·​tary ˈfrag-mən-ˌter-ē 

: made up of fragments : incomplete

a fragmentary report