fraction

American  

[frak-shuhn] / ˈfræk ʃən /

noun

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.

Related Words

See part.

Other Word Forms

• subfraction
  noun

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

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

On Evie, a reader can scroll from “7 Iced Starbuck Dupes With a Fraction of the Calories” to meditations on the health risks of hormonal birth control and vaccines that skirt any of the benefits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

“The places we shot were the kind of places in Tokyo you don’t usually see onscreen,” said Fraction.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2024

My friend Lenn Thompson, author of the Cork Report website and Press Fraction newsletter on Substack, trolled the magazine with critical memes on social media.

From Washington Post • Oct. 6, 2022

“Hawkeye,” which takes some inspiration from an inventive run on the comic-book series by the writer Matt Fraction and artists including David Aja, is set primarily after the events of the 2019 blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame.”

From New York Times • Nov. 19, 2021

Fraction multiplications are hard but nothing I can’t handle.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Related Words

• chunk
• half
• portion