fragmentation

[ frag-muhn-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of fragmenting; state of being fragmented.
2. the disintegration, collapse, or breakdown of norms of thought, behavior, or social relationship.
3. the pieces of an exploded fragmentation bomb or grenade.
4. Computers. the process or result of storing data from a file in noncontiguous sectors on a disk drive. As files are created, modified, deleted, etc., the files are split into smaller pieces and the remaining free space on the disk is broken up, slowing down data access speed on the disk.

fragmentation

/ frăg′mən-tā′shən /

1. The scattering of parts of a computer file across different regions of a disk. Fragmentation occurs when the operating system breaks up the file and stores it in locations left vacant by previously deleted files. The more fragmented the file, the slower it is to retrieve, since each piece of the file must be identified and located on the disk.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fragmentation¹

First recorded in 1880–85; fragment + -ation

Example Sentences

Working with János Török, a specialist in computer simulations, and Ferenc Kun, an expert on fragmentation physics, Domokos found that cuboid averages showed up in rock types like gypsum and limestone as well.

From Quanta Magazine

The world is entering a new, more intense era of fragmentation that is going to change the way the internet works.

From Quartz

Ryan Davis, a Trinity University aerosol expert, looked at this specific scenario and estimated that fragmentation was unlikely at the air velocities the researchers tested.

From Outside Online

Social media’s role has not been to dramatically change the direction of this system, but to intensify the polarization and fragmentation it causes.

From MIT Technology Review

The pandemic highlighted many longstanding systemic flaws in the health care system, including fragmentation, inaccessibility, high costs, and health outcome disparities.

From Fortune

Other species losses take more time and occur due to landscape fragmentation.

From The Daily Beast

First, it means the probably irreversible fragmentation of the modern Syrian state.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, we have irony, allusion, meta commentary, fragmentation, parody, and pastiche.

From The Daily Beast

(LOC 432) The army's standard fragmentation grenade has a blast radius of 15 meters.

From The Daily Beast

In this sense the fragmentation of the opposition could also work against Netanyahu.

From The Daily Beast

The fragmentation bombs were a late development in this class of work.

From Project Gutenberg

The multiple fragmentation of the SA stock presumably terminated by the end of the Pliocene.

From Project Gutenberg

We are very good at fragmentation-it defines our narrow specialties.

From Project Gutenberg

The earliest American requirement in this production was for defensive grenades, of the fragmentation type.

From Project Gutenberg

Nursing as caring resists fragmentation of the unitary phenomenon of our discipline.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crack
• fissure
• wound

More About Fragmentation

What does fragmentation mean?

Fragmentation most generally means the process of fragmenting—breaking into pieces or being divided into parts. It can also refer to the state or result of being broken up or having been divided.

As a noun, fragment can refer to a part that has broken off (as in a bone fragment) or one that has been intentionally separated from a whole (as in I tore off a fragment of the map).

Fragmentation often involves the division of something into smaller parts or groups, as in The fragmentation of voters means that it will be much harder to build a coalition of supporters.

Fragmentation can also refer to the process of falling apart or disintegrating, especially in the context of abstract or intangible things, as in The fragmentation of the empire has resulted in multiple warring states. Such things can be described with the adjective fragmented.

It sometimes refers to the collapse or breakdown of certain norms, behaviors, or institutions, as in the fragmentation of society. 

Fragmentation is also used as a verb in a much more specific way in the context of computers, in which it refers to the storing of data files in a way that breaks them up. The opposite of this sense of fragmentation is defragmentation—the process of bringing the parts of the files back together.

The verb fragmentate, which comes from fragmentation, means the same thing as the verb fragment—to separate something into parts or to break it into fragments. The verb fragmentize means the same thing.

Example: The fragmentation and isolation of so many sectors of society has caused us to become more divided than ever.

Where does fragmentation come from?

The first records of the word fragmentation come from the 1880s. It ultimately comes from the Latin fragmentum, meaning “a broken piece,” from the verb frangere, meaning “to break.” The word fragile also comes from frangere. The suffix -ation is used to form nouns and indicates a process, action, state, condition, or result. The verb fragmentate is a back formation of fragmentation—meaning that fragmentation came first and was then altered to make fragmentate.

When it’s used in the context of physical things, fragmentation often refers to a passive process in which things are broken up by outside forces, such as the fragmentation of rock through erosion. When it’s used in the context of intangible or abstract things, fragmentation often involves division, disintegration, or collapse. It is often used in a negative way to refer to the collapse of things like morals, norms, or institutions considered to be undergoing decay.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to fragmentation?

• fragment (verb, noun)
• fragmentate (verb)

What are some synonyms for fragmentation?

• fragmentization
• disintegration
• division
• splintering
• breaking

What are some words that share a root or word element with fragmentation? 

• fragmentation bomb
• fragmentation grenade
• defragmentation
• fragmented
• fragmentary
• fragmentize
• fragile

What are some words that often get used in discussing fragmentation?

• society
• audience
• voters
• divide
• separate
• piece
• part
• apart

How is fragmentation used in real life?

Fragmentation is often used to refer to the disintegration or division or intangible things, like society or an audience, but it can be used in many different contexts.

"…the internet…absolutely establishes and shows us that we are living in total fragmentation…

"I think the potential of what the internet is going to do to society, both good and bad, is unimaginable…

"It's an alien lifeform." https://t.co/A56xDWAfJX

— Jonathan Skillings (@jeskillings) October 29, 2020

Analysis of #Fragmentation of #Rock Blocks from Real-Scale Tests
👉https://t.co/cGdhbPDi8U pic.twitter.com/IVbUVrJUSf

— Geosciences MDPI (@Geosciences_OA) September 9, 2020

In only a century, man-made habitat fragmentation has had an observable impact on the genetic diversity of lions, Drs. Caitlin Curry and James Derr found in a recent study.

Read more: https://t.co/AR9Ga5wqsw#TAMU #CVMBS @ThatLionLady pic.twitter.com/gaqUD25cwq

— Texas A&M Vet Med (@tamuvetmed) November 2, 2020

 

Try using fragmentation!

Which of the following words is a synonym of fragmentation?

A. breaking
B. splintering
C. division
D. all of the above