fraction
noun
frac·tion
ˈfrak-shən 
1
2
: one of several portions (as of a distillate) separable by fractionation
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
Collectively, these school systems represent a tiny fraction of the more than 1,000 in California, which is why a statewide initiative implanting their values in the state constitution could have such a sweeping effect.
—
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Meat, dairy, and feed corporations take up just a tiny fraction (about 0.25%) of the banks’ lending portfolios all while causing almost 11% of their climate pollution.
—Monique Mikhail, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
The Goldmans were awarded a judgment of $33.5 million, though Simpson only ever paid a small fraction of the sum.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
When even a fraction of a second matters, that can kill you.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 10 Apr. 2024
Still, in 2023, that was just a small fraction of the state’s total gaming business — only 6% according to the annual reports.
—The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
For now, though, the buyers of the nine condos paid a stunning fraction of what people might expect to pay for residential units in a Bay Area highrise.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
The bird flu virus, H5N1, is present in at least some small fraction of New York City birds, according to a new study.
—Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
The price of China’s solar panels plummeted, and now cost just a fraction as much as those produced in the U.S.
At her press conference on Monday, Dr. Yellen described visiting an Atlanta solar power company that in 2017 had been forced into bankruptcy by low-cost Chinese imports.
—Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2024
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Meat, dairy, and feed corporations take up just a tiny fraction (about 0.25%) of the banks’ lending portfolios all while causing almost 11% of their climate pollution.
—Monique Mikhail, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
The Goldmans were awarded a judgment of $33.5 million, though Simpson only ever paid a small fraction of the sum.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
When even a fraction of a second matters, that can kill you.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 10 Apr. 2024
Still, in 2023, that was just a small fraction of the state’s total gaming business — only 6% according to the annual reports.
—The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
For now, though, the buyers of the nine condos paid a stunning fraction of what people might expect to pay for residential units in a Bay Area highrise.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
The bird flu virus, H5N1, is present in at least some small fraction of New York City birds, according to a new study.
—Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
The price of China’s solar panels plummeted, and now cost just a fraction as much as those produced in the U.S.
At her press conference on Monday, Dr. Yellen described visiting an Atlanta solar power company that in 2017 had been forced into bankruptcy by low-cost Chinese imports.
—Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fraction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fraction
Cite this Entry
“Fraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fraction. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fraction
noun
frac·tion
ˈfrak-shən
1
: a number (as ½, ¾, or 3.323) that represents a number of equal parts of a whole or the division of one number by another
2
: a part of a whole
Medical Definition
fraction
noun
frac·tion
ˈfrak-shən
: one of several portions (as of a distillate) separable by fractionation
gamma globulin is a fraction of blood plasma
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