fragmentation

American  

[frag-muhn-tey-shuhn] / ˌfræg mənˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of fragmenting; state of being fragmented.

2. the disintegration, collapse, or breakdown of norms of thought, behavior, or social relationship.

3. the pieces of an exploded fragmentation bomb or grenade.

4. Computers. the process or result of storing data from a file in noncontiguous sectors on a disk drive. As files are created, modified, deleted, etc., the files are split into smaller pieces and the remaining free space on the disk is broken up, slowing down data access speed on the disk.

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fragmentation British  

/ ˌfræɡmɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of fragmenting or the state of being fragmented

2. the disintegration of norms regulating behaviour, thought, and social relationships

3. the steel particles of an exploded projectile

4. (modifier) of or relating to a weapon designed to explode into many small pieces, esp as an antipersonnel weapon

   a fragmentation bomb

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fragmentation Scientific  

/ frăg′mən-tā′shən /

1. The scattering of parts of a computer file across different regions of a disk. Fragmentation occurs when the operating system breaks up the file and stores it in locations left vacant by previously deleted files. The more fragmented the file, the slower it is to retrieve, since each piece of the file must be identified and located on the disk.

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Usage

What does fragmentation mean? Fragmentation most generally means the process of fragmenting—breaking into pieces or being divided into parts. It can also refer to the state or result of being broken up or having been divided. As a noun, fragment can refer to a part that has broken off (as in a bone fragment) or one that has been intentionally separated from a whole (as in I tore off a fragment of the map). Fragmentation often involves the division of something into smaller parts or groups, as in The fragmentation of voters means that it will be much harder to build a coalition of supporters. Fragmentation can also refer to the process of falling apart or disintegrating, especially in the context of abstract or intangible things, as in The fragmentation of the empire has resulted in multiple warring states. Such things can be described with the adjective fragmented. It sometimes refers to the collapse or breakdown of certain norms, behaviors, or institutions, as in the fragmentation of society. Fragmentation is also used as a verb in a much more specific way in the context of computers, in which it refers to the storing of data files in a way that breaks them up. The opposite of this sense of fragmentation is defragmentation—the process of bringing the parts of the files back together. The verb fragmentate, which comes from fragmentation, means the same thing as the verb fragment—to separate something into parts or to break it into fragments. The verb fragmentize means the same thing. Example: The fragmentation and isolation of so many sectors of society has caused us to become more divided than ever.

Etymology

Origin of fragmentation

First recorded in 1880–85; fragment + -ation

Explanation

Fragmentation describes a separating of something into pieces. The way a family can be affected by divorce, its members living in separate houses, is one kind of fragmentation. People often have an image of an exploding bomb when they think about fragmentation, and that sense of something breaking into tiny particles is a useful way to think of the word, no matter how it's used. A burst water balloon experiences fragmentation, and so does a city disrupted by violence. The Latin root word, fragmentum, literally means "a piece broken off," or a fragment.

Example Sentences

"Those pock marks are witness marks of a fragmentation munition," an analyst from McKenzie Intelligence said.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

“High uncertainty and geo-economic fragmentation are here to stay.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

The previously overlooked impact of fragmentation — the breaking up of global energy markets, trade and finance — is becoming an active driver of market dynamics.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Psychological trauma, social fragmentation, and economic dislocation are persistent scars that can span generations.

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026

Europe’s fragmentation did, and China’s unity didn’t, foster the advance of technology, science, and capitalism by fostering competition between states and providing innovators with alternative sources of support and havens from persecution.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• crack
• fissure
• wound