Definition of segmentnext
as in portion
one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled I think I lost one segment of this model kit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

segment

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word segment distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of segment are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and section. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Where would division be a reasonable alternative to segment?

The synonyms division and segment are sometimes interchangeable, but division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When can fragment be used instead of segment?

The meanings of fragment and segment largely overlap; however, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

In what contexts can member take the place of segment?

While the synonyms member and segment are close in meaning, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When might part be a better fit than segment?

Although the words part and segment have much in common, part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When could piece be used to replace segment?

The words piece and segment can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When would portion be a good substitute for segment?

The words portion and segment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When is it sensible to use section instead of segment?

In some situations, the words section and segment are roughly equivalent. However, section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of segment
Noun
The Origins of To Catch a Predator As Primetime shows, To Catch a Predator began in 2004 as a Dateline NBC segment. — Samantha Bergeson, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026 Instead, their segment identity directs these signals into overlapping sets of responses that differ in the different areas of the brain. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
That required segmenting the coil and inserting electronics within it to keep it from radiating its energy away like an antenna. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026 If a judge overturned Tuesday’s court ruling to extend polling place times, the provisional ballots would help election officials segment out votes cast after polls were originally scheduled to close. — Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for segment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for segment
Noun
  • If the leak becomes more pronounced, repair costs can vary significantly depending on which portion of the oil pan is involved.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • When someone makes a charitable payment and receives goods or services in return, the deductible portion is generally limited to the amount exceeding the value of the benefit received.
    — Jayson Weingarten, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • One of the animals had been fully skinned while the other had been quartered.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Which amendment prohibits quartering of troops in homes during peacetime?
    — Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • As of now, Bryan is still scheduled to return to Gillette stadium on Saturday evening as part of his sold-out With Heaven On Tour.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The alerts have become an increasingly familiar part of life near the border.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Recent history recalls plans to partition Iraq into ethnic substates.
    — David Armitage, Washington Post, 26 June 2026
  • In August 1947 the Indian subcontinent achieved independence from British rule but was simultaneously partitioned into the separate countries India and Pakistan.
    — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
Noun
  • Walking through it, which the work impels one to do, shows that the six sections of Shift afford a sequence of passages down into and across the terrain.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Scientists can now examine sections of DNA that were once inaccessible and detect forms of genetic variation that older methods may have missed.
    — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The impasse dates back to summer 2023, when the City Council bifurcated the new collective bargaining agreement with the FOP.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The screen is sometimes bifurcated between Carter’s livestream, which itself gets clogged with fan comments and emojis, and people watching it in Japan.
    — William Earl, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Once a week, a group of former drug-traffickers gather in a small recording studio on the outskirts of Rio to dissect their past lives of crime and those of their guests.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The couple doesn’t appear in public together very often, so there’s not even that much to dissect.
    — StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Double-height elements in the facade divide the tower into four sections.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026
  • California voters are divided on taxing the rich, according to a new poll.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Segment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/segment. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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