fraction
noun
frac·tion
| \ ˈfrak-shən
\
\
Definition of fraction
1a
: a numerical representation (such as ³/₄, ⁵/₈, or 3.234) indicating the quotient of two numbers
2
: one of several portions (as of a distillate) separable by fractionation
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Examples of fraction in a Sentence
a fraction of an inch
if even a tiny fraction of that cookie broke off and fell into the delicate watch works, it could mess things up
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet this sort of winemaking accounts for a tiny fraction of all the wine made in Georgia (less than 1 percent, by some estimates), and only 25 percent of what’s imported to the U.S., according to Peterson. — Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, "Yes, Georgian wine is worth the hype and yes, you should be drinking it," 15 Aug. 2019 Only a tiny fraction of the 10 million people infected by TB each year get this type, but very few of them survive it. — New York Times, "Scientists Discover New Cure for the Deadliest Strain of Tuberculosis," 14 Aug. 2019 Studies have indicated that ridesharing has increased traffic snarls, but remains a tiny fraction of all trips. — Shirley Leung, BostonGlobe.com, "Would managed lanes make rush hours more manageable?," 9 Aug. 2019 International fees make up only a tiny fraction of most players’ earnings, and the 6m kroner ($710,000) annual sum will be split among the entire female squad. — Fox News, "French mayor dies after trying to stop illegal dumping: report," 8 Aug. 2019 The Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit organization that tracks capital punishment, lists 62 federal prisoners on death row, a tiny fraction of the roughly 2,600 prisoners nationwide who await execution. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "We Are All Executioners Now," 25 July 2019 In the end, only a tiny fraction of the energy imparted to the electrons is emitted as light. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Silicon LED created by buzzing surface with high-speed electrons," 22 July 2019 Only a tiny fraction of these first- and second-year guys will ever make a regular-season roster and an even smaller percentage will actually stick and have long careers. — Greg Moore, azcentral, "Odds aren't stopping Ray Spalding in push for new contract with Suns at NBA Summer League," 9 July 2019 Lawyers argue that such cases represent a tiny fraction of the more than 2m Indian women—mostly Hindus—who have been abandoned by husbands without support. — The Economist, "“Us” v “them” in South Asia," 29 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fraction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for fraction
fraction
noun
English Language Learners Definition of fraction
mathematics
: a number (such as ¹/₂ or ³/₄) which indicates that one number is being divided by another
also
: a number (such as 3.323) that consists of a whole number and a decimal
: a part or amount of something
See the full definition for fraction in the English Language Learners Dictionary
fraction
noun
frac·tion
| \ ˈfrak-shən
\
\
Kids Definition of fraction
1
: a number (as ¹/₂, ²/₃, ¹⁷/₁₀₀) that indicates one or more equal parts of a whole or group and that may be considered as indicating also division of the number above the line by the number below the line
2
: a part of a whole : fragment
I sold the car for a fraction of what I paid for it.
fraction
noun
frac·tion
| \ ˈfrak-shən
\
\
Medical Definition of fraction
: one of several portions (as of a distillate) separable by fractionation
gamma globulin is a fraction of blood plasma
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