fraction
FRAK-shuhn
Fraction (noun) means a part of a whole, especially a small one. Example: “A fraction of one second is all it takes to blink.”
noun
1
A part of a whole, especially a small one.
"A fraction of one second is all it takes to blink."
"Only a fraction of the applicants were interviewed."
"She finished the race in a fraction of the time she expected."
2
In math, a number written as one number over another, like 3/4, showing a part of a whole.
"In the maths test, I had to turn the fraction three-quarters into a decimal."
"The recipe calls for a fraction like 1/2 cup of sugar."
"Students learn to add fractions with different denominators."
How to use fraction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA piece of a whole thing, whether you mean it mathematically (1/2, 3/4) or loosely (a small part of something).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a fraction of
reduce a fraction
in a fraction of a second
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Word forms
- Plural
- fractions
- Third person singular
- fractions
- Past tense
- fractioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of one second is all it takes to blink.
Etymology
From Latin fractio ("a breaking"), from frangere ("to break") — the same root as fracture and fragment.
Related words
Rhymes for fraction
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for fraction →
Frequently asked questions
What does “fraction” mean?
The word “fraction” means a part of a whole, especially a small one. In plain terms, a piece of a whole thing, whether you mean it mathematically (1/2, 3/4) or loosely (a small part of something).
How do you pronounce “fraction”?
“Fraction” is pronounced FRAK-shuhn (/ˈfɹæk.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “fraction” in a sentence?
Here is “fraction” used in a sentence: “Only a fraction of the applicants were interviewed.”
What part of speech is “fraction”?
“Fraction” is a noun.
Where does the word “fraction” come from?
The word “fraction” comes from Latin. From Latin fractio ("a breaking"), from frangere ("to break") — the same root as fracture and fragment.
Is “fraction” a common word?
“Fraction” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “fraction” have?
“Fraction” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a part of a whole, especially a small one.
What is the difference between a fraction and a decimal?
A fraction shows a part of a whole as one number over another, such as 3/4, while a decimal shows the same idea using a point and place value, such as 0.75. They are two ways of writing amounts that are not whole numbers, and each can be converted into the other.
What is the difference between a fraction and a percentage?
A fraction expresses a part of a whole as one number over another, like 1/2, while a percentage expresses a part out of 100, like 50%. They describe the same proportion in different formats.
What is the difference between the numerator and denominator in a fraction?
In a fraction such as 3/4, the top number (3) is the numerator, which tells you how many parts you have, and the bottom number (4) is the denominator, which tells you how many equal parts the whole is divided into.
Can fraction mean a small amount outside of math?
Yes. Outside mathematics, fraction often means a part of a whole, especially a small one, as in "only a fraction of the crowd stayed" or "a fraction of the cost." Here it stresses smallness rather than a precise numerical value.
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