fraction

American  

[frak-shuhn] / ˈfræk ʃən /

noun

• fractions
  plural

1. Mathematics.

   1. a number usually expressed in the form a/b.

   2. a ratio of algebraic quantities similarly expressed.

2. Chemistry. (in a volatile mixture) a component whose range of boiling point temperatures allows it to be separated from other components by fractionation.

3. a part as distinct from the whole of anything; portion or section.

   The meeting started with a fraction of us present.

4. a very small part or segment of anything; minute portion.

   Only a fraction of the work was completed on time.

5. a very small amount; a little bit.

   It was only a fraction away from completion.

6. a piece broken off; fragment or bit.

7. the act of breaking.

8. Ecclesiastical. (in a Eucharistic service) the breaking of the Host.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to divide or break into fractions, sections, factions, etc..

   Dissension threatens to fraction the powerful union.

fraction British  

/ ˈfrækʃən /

noun

1. maths

   1. a ratio of two expressions or numbers other than zero

   2. any rational number that is not an integer

2. any part or subdivision

   a substantial fraction of the nation

3. a small piece; fragment

4. chem a component of a mixture separated by a fractional process, such as fractional distillation

5. Christianity the formal breaking of the bread in Communion

6. the act of breaking

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verb

1. (tr) to divide

fraction Scientific  

/ frăk′shən /

1. A number that compares part of an object or a set with the whole, especially the quotient of two whole numbers written in the form a/b. The fraction 1/2, which means 1 divided by 2, can represent such things as 10 pencils out of a box of 20, or 50 cents out of a dollar.

2. See also decimal fraction improper fraction proper fraction

3. A chemical component separated by fractionation.

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fraction Cultural  

1. A mathematical expression representing the division of one whole number by another. Usually written as two numbers separated by a horizontal or diagonal line, fractions are also used to indicate a part of a whole number or a ratio between two numbers. Fractions may have a value of less than one, as with 1/2, or equal to one, as with 2/2, or more than one, as with 3/2. The top number of a fraction is the numerator and the bottom number is the denominator.

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Usage

What does fraction mean? A fraction is any part separated or distinct from its whole, as in After the party, just a fraction of the large cake was left. A fraction can also be a very small part of a whole, as in We only understand a fraction of how the human mind works. In mathematics, fraction is a number that is expressed as a proportion, as 1/2 or 2/3. The number on the bottom represents the total number of parts of one unit, while the number on the top is the portion of the unit being considered. For example, in 1/2 the 2 represents two halves of one whole and the 1 represents the amount of parts being observed, in this case one. To fraction means to divide into sections or fractions, as in Politics often fractions people into self-interested groups. Example: That announcement is only a fraction of what’s in store tonight.

Synonym Usage

See part.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subfraction
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• fractions
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of fraction

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fraccioun, from Late Latin frāctiōn- (stem of frāctiō ) “a breaking (in pieces),” equivalent to Latin frāct(us) (past participle of frangere “to break, shatter”; see break) + -iōn- -ion

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Explanation

A fraction is a part of a whole. If two of you split the take from a bank heist, you would each get half. If you had a getaway driver, then the money would be split three ways, into fractions of one-third each. The quotient of two numbers is called a fraction, as is the action of performing division. Most of us, however, think of a fraction as a small part of an item — as in: "You only use a fraction of your actual brain power in the course of your life." Just think of a whole as a pie, and a fraction as a slice of that pie.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fraction fractions

Gutierrez raised just a fraction of Mealer’s $2.8 million haul over the midterm cycle, as of mid-October, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026

That’s a minuscule fraction of the $1.2 million that Americans think they’ll need to retire comfortably, according to the asset-management firm Schroders.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

It's a fraction of the size of some of the Big Tech companies it serves.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

Although the foveola occupies only a small fraction of the retina, it is involved in approximately 50% of human visual perception, according to the researchers.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

While her left hand missed completely, her right hand grazed his shirt, a fraction of an inch from grabbing it.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

Major rivers including the Rhine, the Danube and the Loire have been reduced to fractions of their normal flows, leaving behind cracked earth and dead fish, while hammering economies.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

Copernicus Programme, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich measures sea surface height across the world's oceans every 10 days with precision down to fractions of an inch.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 15, 2026

Hedge funds employ the best AI researchers available, spending hundreds of millions of dollars annually to extract fractions of a percentage point of edge.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 1, 2026

You don’t have to be an expert in fractions to know that is bad.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026

Howard had shrugged off the slow early fractions, attributing them to the difficulty of accelerating under 133 pounds, but Smith was uneasy.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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Related Words

• chunk
• half
• portion

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