fragmented
Americanadjective
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reduced to fragments.
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existing or functioning as though broken into separate parts; disorganized; disunified.
a fragmented personality; a fragmented society.
Usage
What does fragmented mean? Fragmented is an adjective that describes things that have been reduced or divided into fragments—pieces that have been broken off of or detached from the whole. Fragment most commonly refers to a part that has broken off rather than one that has been separated gently or intentionally, like fragments of a broken vase or a broken bone. Such things can be described as fragmented. As a verb, fragment can mean to break into pieces or disintegrate, as in The empire fragmented into multiple states after the emperor’s death. Such an empire could be described as fragmented. Fragmented is perhaps most often applied to abstract or intangible things like this, in which case it usually means disorganized or disunified in some way. For example, a fragmented society is one in which there is an extreme lack of unity among different groups. This sense of the word often implies that the thing described as fragmented is broken or unhealthy in some way. The verb fragmentize can mean the same thing as the verb sense of fragment, and the adjective fragmentized is a synonym of fragmented. The related adjective fragmentary means something different: consisting of or reduced to fragments—disconnected or incomplete, as in fragmentary evidence. Example: My attention becomes fragmented when I’m working on too many projects.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fragmented
Explanation
Things that are fragmented are broken into very small pieces or divided into factions. When voters are bitterly split, unable to find common ground, they are fragmented. You can describe the ancient shards of pottery at an archeological dig as fragmented, or the pieces of the bowl you just dropped on the kitchen floor. It's also good for talking about something that doesn't form a coherent whole: "The movie's fragmented plot made it hard to understand," or "The whole country is fragmented, and this election isn't helping matters." The Latin root, fragmentum, means "a piece broken off."
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.
Researchers involved in the renaming effort argue that this misunderstanding has contributed to delayed diagnosis and fragmented care.
From Salon • May 16, 2026
If the current fragmented authority remains in place, Meaney said, the headline would be:
From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026
Macron’s decision in 2024 to dissolve the National Assembly produced the most fragmented National Assembly in the history of France’s modern Fifth Republic.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
The overnight local election results have confirmed that, for the time being at least, electoral politics in Britain has become highly fragmented.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
Again, my recall of that visit was fragmented, and what was left behind had nothing to do with the doctor.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
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.
