sentence fragment
noun
: a word, phrase, or clause that usually has in speech the intonation of a sentence but lacks the grammatical structure usually found in the sentences of formal and especially written composition
Examples of sentence fragment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then somehow, there’s this magical moment when those sentence fragments and scribbles shapeshift into a decent piece of writing.
—
Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
The prohibition on legislators soliciting lobbyists for campaign donations could be extended to municipal campaigns with a sentence fragment late one night, when the legislature sometimes prefers to conduct its most consequential business.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
Practically all the dialogue is delivered in sentence fragments, maxing out around six words per line (some are as short as one).
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Apr. 2025
Straight declarative sentence, periodic sentence, sentence fragment.
—Will Harrison, New York Times, 11 July 2023
The text Wujing's man sent was a sentence fragment — a grammar faux pas that an exacting polyglot like Dembe would never make.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2023
His final version ends on a sentence fragment—a dramatic reminder that arcadias may well be unfinishable.
—Tess Taylor, WSJ, 7 May 2021
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Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
The prohibition on legislators soliciting lobbyists for campaign donations could be extended to municipal campaigns with a sentence fragment late one night, when the legislature sometimes prefers to conduct its most consequential business.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
Practically all the dialogue is delivered in sentence fragments, maxing out around six words per line (some are as short as one).
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Apr. 2025
Straight declarative sentence, periodic sentence, sentence fragment.
—Will Harrison, New York Times, 11 July 2023
The text Wujing's man sent was a sentence fragment — a grammar faux pas that an exacting polyglot like Dembe would never make.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2023
His final version ends on a sentence fragment—a dramatic reminder that arcadias may well be unfinishable.
—Tess Taylor, WSJ, 7 May 2021
Cite this Entry
“Sentence fragment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentence%20fragment. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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