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

Standards development can prevent the kind of fragmentation that has historically hampered American technology leadership. —Simeon Bochev, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025

Grounding Data In Real-Time, Trusted Context A key bottleneck in scaling AI is context fragmentation—models can’t reason effectively without access to clean, connected and secure organizational data. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

His family, scattered across the spectrum (with a brother who regularly attends peace demonstrations and designs save-the-world websites, and an ultra-Orthodox sister in Jerusalem), mirrors the country’s fragmentation. —David Remnick, New Yorker, 28 July 2025

The pipeline is always flowing. Democrats, for the most part, still haven’t found a reliable way to tackle the challenge of this fragmentation. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 24 July 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