fraction

IPA/ˈfrækʃn/
KK[frˈækʃən]IPA/ˈfrækʃn/

fraction — noun

  • fractionsingular
  • fractionsplural

1. a number in arithmetic written as one amount above another with a line between t

1.nounB1
Definition

a number in arithmetic written as one amount above another with a line between them — for example, ½ or ¾ — that tells you how many equal parts of a whole you have.

Example

Ava learned how to add and subtract fractions in her math class today.

add / subtract fractions (arithmetic operations)

The worksheet asked students to circle the fraction that was greater than one half.

fraction greater than / less than (comparison)

Common collocations
  • proper fraction
  • improper fraction
  • simplify a fraction
  • reduce a fraction
  • fraction bar
  • common fraction
Synonyms
  • ratio

    A ratio compares two quantities but does not have the same written format (no line or slash required) and is not always less than one.

  • decimal

    A decimal expresses the same value using a decimal point (e.g., 0.75) rather than a numerator and denominator separated by a line.

  • proportion

    A proportion is a broader term for the relationship between parts and a whole; it is not limited to the specific written form of a fraction.

Antonyms
  • whole number

    A whole number (integer) represents a complete unit, unlike a fraction which represents one or more parts of a unit.

Grammar Patterns

fraction + of + noun

fraction + verb

Usage Note

In mathematics, a fraction has a numerator (the number on top) and a denominator (the number on the bottom). Distinguish from sense 2, where 'fraction' means 'a small amount of something' rather than a written numerical form.

Common Mistakes

The fraction 5/6 is bigger than one whole.
The fraction 5/6 is less than one whole; 6/5 is greater than one whole.
A proper fraction (top < bottom) is always less than one; an improper fraction (top > bottom) can be equal to or greater than one.
Divide the number and write it as a fraction of 100.
Divide the number and write it as a percentage out of 100.
A fraction is a ratio of two numbers, not specifically out of 100.

2. an extremely small piece or share of something, often far less than the total —

2.nounB1
Definition

an extremely small piece or share of something, often far less than the total — used when you want to stress just how little there is.

Example

Only a tiny fraction of the students passed the difficult exam on their first try.

a tiny fraction of + noun group

Reuben sold his old car for a fraction of what he originally paid for it.

a fraction of the original price (cost comparison)

Common collocations
  • a tiny fraction
  • a small fraction
  • a mere fraction
  • a fraction of the cost
  • a fraction of the time
  • a fraction of a second
Synonyms
  • bit

    More informal and general than 'fraction'; 'a bit of' does not carry the same emphasis on smallness compared to the whole.

  • portion

    More neutral about size — a portion can be large or small, whereas a fraction always implies a small piece.

  • minority

    Used specifically for groups of people or countable items, and carries a numerical sense below half, not just 'small'.

Antonyms
  • majority

    Refers to the larger part or more than half of something, opposite in scale to a small fraction.

  • bulk

    Describes the largest or main part of something, contrasting with a fraction that is a very small share.

Grammar Patterns

a / the fraction + of + noun / pronoun

a tiny / small / mere fraction

Usage Note

Common in the pattern 'a fraction of [something]' to emphasise that the amount is very small. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not involve actual mathematical notation or numbers written with a numerator and denominator.

Common Mistakes

He paid a fraction of the price, almost the full amount.
He paid a fraction of the price, meaning much less than the full amount.
'A fraction of' always means a small part, never close to the whole.
I spent a fraction on the gift.
I spent a fraction of what I expected on the gift.
The pattern 'a fraction of [something]' is the natural way to use this sense; it sounds incomplete without the whole being specified.

Word family

  • fractional
    adjectiveB2
  • fractionally
    adverbC1
  • fractionate
    verbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Fraction, portion, share, percentage, and part all refer to pieces of a larger whole, but they differ in how they emphasise size and context. 'Fraction' stresses that the piece is very small compared to the whole ('a fraction of the cost'). 'Portion' is more neutral about size and often implies a serving or allocation ('a large portion of the meal'). 'Share' suggests a fair or expected division among people ('her share of the profits'). 'Percentage' is specifically a fraction expressed out of one hundred and carries precision ('a high percentage of voters supported the change'). 'Part' is the most general word, simply meaning any piece of a whole ('part of the problem'). Use 'a fraction of' when you want to emphasise just how tiny an amount is.

portion ↗share ↗percentage ↗part ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • fraction of the cost
  • fraction of the time
  • fraction of a second

Phrases

  • a tiny fraction
  • a small fraction
  • a mere fraction

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'fraction' comes from Latin 'fractio,' meaning 'a breaking' or 'a breaking into pieces,' from the verb 'frangere' (to break). The same Latin root gave English 'fracture' and 'fragment.' The mathematical sense developed from the idea of 'breaking' a whole number into smaller parts. The word entered English in the 15th century through Old French 'fraction,' originally meaning 'a breaking' and later taking on its numerical meaning.