fragmentation

noun

frag·​men·​ta·​tion ˌfrag-mən-ˈtā-shən 

-ˌmen-

1

: the act or process of fragmenting or making fragmentary

2

: the state of being fragmented or fragmentary

fragmentate

ˈfrag-mən-ˌtāt 

verb

Examples of fragmentation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Another is the increasing fragmentation of data estates across a blend of cloud and on-premises hosting solutions. —Jakub Lamik, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Keeping the European Union close in particular is a key concern of Dimon’s, on account of its history and the potential fragmentation of the bloc. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 June 2025

In a different ecological era, fragmentation could make space for new saplings, but with pests like the nematode around, fragmented canopy can act like a wound that gets infected, shutting down a forest’s ability to heal itself. —Robert Sullivan, Curbed, 9 June 2025

For all the contemporary discourse about the digital fragmentation of life and the resurgence of open misogyny in pop culture, Friendship could have been released, with a few tweaks, at nearly any point in the last half-century. —Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 22 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

fragment entry 2 + -ation, probably after French fragmentation

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fragmentation

• fragmentation bomb
• fragmentation grenade

Rhymes for fragmentation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation