segment 1 of 2

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

Relevance

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
But even with systems in place, Magellan’s Tivnan said ATC staffing will rattle every aviation segment. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2025 While The North Face is undeniably linked to the outdoors, the brand has also branched out into the more mainstream arena, a market segment Brown embraces. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
Appreciate the plurality of their needs and segment them into the top three priorities. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 Advertisement In previous negotiations, Beijing has repeatedly suggested segmenting the border dispute—settling the largely uncontested Sikkim-Tibet sector of the border—before addressing the rest. Shyam Saran, Time, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for segment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for segment
Noun
  • Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a large portion of Iran's ballistic missile arsenal was destroyed during the first hours of the aerial attacks.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • After battling two years of slowly deteriorating vision, Charton was able to claw back a small portion of her lost world.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • In the old days beggars were drawn and quartered in that square.
    George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Sprinkle quartered cookies over sherbet mixture, pressing gently into the mixture.
    Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This show has always been a part of our love story.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 11 Nov. 2025
  • It’s not lost on many that Suharto was granted the posthumous honor by Prabowo – a longtime supporter of Suharto’s regime, and once a part of the strongman’s family.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • If the two sides couldn’t agree, Rabin said, Israel would build a barrier to partition its land from Palestinian territory in order to meet Israeli security needs.
    Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Instead, both ground sloths partitioned their niches and played complementary ecological roles.
    Aditya Reddy Kurre, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Table of Contents is divided along the parts of a young body, with sections titled Heads Up!
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Barry points to the central section of the pitch, on either side of the halfway line, to make his point.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This also happens at a moment where the venture capital goalposts are moving—the industry is bifurcating into asset managers and smaller shops, while politics is becoming an increasingly complicated flashpoint.
    Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
  • America’s economy has been increasingly bifurcated for quite some time – with the exception of a few years following the pandemic.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Half of the figurine is dissected to show how Buddy is truly born in indigo.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Douglas dissected the testimony from the school staffers and their actions the day of the shooting and how information was conveyed to the administrator.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Qianlong took a page from the design of private gardens in southern China to make the layout more compact, and divided the site into four connected courtyards, two of which are currently open to the public, from south to north.
    Fred He, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Engineers divide conventional aircraft into three main lightning zones.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Segment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/segment. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on segment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!