fragmentation

UK: /ˌfræɡmɛnˈteɪʃən/

US: /ˌfrægmənˈteɪʃən/

US: (frag′mən tā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

frag•men•ta•tion  (frag′mən tā′shən), n. 

1. the act or process of fragmenting;
   state of being fragmented.
2. Sociology the disintegration, collapse, or breakdown of norms of thought, behavior, or social relationship.
3. Military the pieces of an exploded fragmentation bomb or grenade.

• fragment + -ation 1880–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fragmentation / 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

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

frag•ment /n. ˈfrægmənt; v. ˈfrægmɛnt, frægˈmɛnt/   n. [countable]

1. a part broken off or detached:
   fragments of shattered glass.
2. an unfinished or isolated part:
   He had written the book in fragments and now had to pull it together.

v. 

3. to (cause to) collapse or break into pieces or fragments;
   disintegrate: [no object]
   The parchment is likely to fragment if you touch it.
   [~ + object]
   Outside influences fragmented that culture.
4. to divide into fragments:
   [~ + object] The tactic was to fragment the opposition and have them fight among themselves.

frag•men•ta•tion /ˌfrægmənˈteɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -frac-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

frag•ment  (n. frag′mənt;v. frag′mənt, -ment, frag ment′), n. 

1. a part broken off or detached:
   scattered fragments of the broken vase.
2. an isolated, unfinished, or incomplete part:
   She played a fragment of her latest composition.
3. an odd piece, bit, or scrap.

v.i. 

4. to collapse or break into fragments;
   disintegrate:
   The chair fragmented under his weight.

v.t. 

5. to break (something) into pieces or fragments;
   cause to disintegrate:
   Outside influences soon fragmented the Mayan culture.
6. to divide into fragments;
   disunify.

• Latin fragmentum a broken piece, remnant, equivalent. to frag- (stem of frangere to break) + -mentum -ment
• late Middle English 1375–1425

Synonyms

• 1. –3. See part.