SKIP TO CONTENT

fragmented

/ˈfrægmɪnɾɪd/
/ˈfrægmɪntɪd/
IPA guide

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."

Definitions of fragmented
  1. adjective
    having been divided; having the unity destroyed
    “a fragmented coalition”
    divided
    separated into parts or pieces
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘fragmented'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family