fractional
Americanadjective
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pertaining to fractions; comprising a part or the parts of a unit; constituting a fraction.
fractional numbers.
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comparatively small; inconsiderable or insignificant.
The profit on the deal was fractional.
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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.
adjective
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relating to, containing, or constituting one or more fractions
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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
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very small or insignificant
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broken up; fragmented
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fractional
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.
Pagliuca, who now runs his family office in Palm Beach, Fla., said he liked the company’s intimate approach to fractional ownership.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Other popular treatments include fractional laser resurfacing, which is meant to stimulate collagen production, as well as surgical procedures that remove fat from other parts of the body to inject into the face.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
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
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
There was a quiet permission given with that fractional gesture, a permission he hadn’t realized he wanted until he had it.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
