fractional

Also frac·tion·ar·y

[frak-shuh-nl]

adjective

1. pertaining to fractions; comprising a part or the parts of a unit; constituting a fraction.

   fractional numbers.

2. comparatively small; inconsiderable or insignificant.

   The profit on the deal was fractional.

3. Chemistry.,  of or noting a process, as distillation, crystallization, or oxidation, by which the component substances of a mixture are separated according to differences in certain of their properties, as boiling point, critical temperature, or solubility.

ˈfractional

/ ˈfrækʃənərI, ˈfrækʃənəl /

adjective

1. relating to, containing, or constituting one or more fractions

2. of or denoting a process in which components of a mixture are separated by exploiting differences in their physical properties, such as boiling points, solubility, etc

   fractional distillation

   fractional crystallization

3. very small or insignificant

4. broken up; fragmented

Other Word Forms

• fractionally adverb
• subfractional adjective
• subfractionally adverb
• subfractionary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ˈfractional¹

First recorded in 1665–75; fraction + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The 45-year-old purchased fractional shares of companies like Apple and McDonald’s and loved watching the dividends grow from 5 cents to 10 cents to $100 or more as he added to the account.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Rose almost made it five on the last, which would have secured victory without needing a play-off, but his putt was fractionally off target, meaning he finished with a three-under 67.

Read more on BBC

This is a partial, one could even say fractional, list.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Taking guard across his stumps, Pope was quick to pounce any time India were fractionally awry with their line.

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Reprieved, Duckett drove through the covers and pulled anything fractionally short.

Read more on BBC