fragmentation

1 of 2

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

fragmentate

2 of 2

verb

frag·​men·​tate -ˌtāt 

-ed/-ing/-s

: to break into pieces especially explosively : fractionate, fragmentize

they were sure the master rods on the engines were all fragmentating

—David Beaty

permits the … artist to fragmentate a single small idea into a limitless string of daily episodes

—C. W. Morton

Examples of fragmentation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It was employed against an armoured personnel carrier using a proximity sensor and fragmentation warhead. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

In 2025, YouTube TV reminded networks, people have subscription fatigue, and fragmentation is keeping fans from watching games. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026

The team determined that meteorites that reach terra firma ironically went through more melting and fragmentation, which slowed them down enought to actually land. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, the deepening fragmentation and disorder in the Middle East caused by the war are seen in China as an opportunity to make new diplomatic inroads in the region. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

fragment entry 2 + -ation, probably after French fragmentation

Verb

back-formation from fragmentation

First Known Use

Noun

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