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fractional

American  
[frak-shuh-nl] / ˈfræk ʃə nl /
Also fractionary

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.


fractional British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of fractional

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

Vocabulary lists containing fractional

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Mosley sold 1,768.25 shares External link —the amount includes fractional shares—for $880.19 apiece, leaving him with a direct holding of 327,517 shares.

From Barron's Jun. 18, 2026

Super Micro plans to issue $1.25 billion in new shares and $3.75 billion of depositary shares, which represent fractional interests in the company’s newly-issued convertible preferred stock.

From MarketWatch Jun. 9, 2026

Jet fuel is essentially a highly refined form of kerosene with specialised additives, and is usually produced from fractional distillation of crude oil.

From BBC May 3, 2026

Trading is available 24 hours a day on weekdays, and investors can buy fractional shares for as little as $1.

From Barron's Feb. 25, 2026

When all the votes—including fractional votes—had been tallied, the resolution had failed, 58.25 to 55.75.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

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