fragment

fragment — noun

IPA/ˈfræɡmənt/
KK[frˈæɡmənt]IPA/ˈfræɡmənt/
  • fragmentsingular
  • fragmentsplural

1. a very small part that has come away from something larger when it is dropped, h

1.nounB2
Definition

a very small part that has come away from something larger when it is dropped, hit, or broken — for example, a tiny piece of glass on the floor after a window breaks

Example

Yuki picked up a tiny glass fragment from the kitchen floor after dropping a vase.

collocation: glass fragment

The archaeologists sifted through layers of soil looking for small bone fragments.

collocation: bone fragment

Common collocations
  • glass fragment
  • bone fragment
  • rock fragment
  • tiny fragment
  • small fragment
  • fragment of + object
  • fragments of glass
  • fragments of pottery
Synonyms
  • piece

    broader, neutral term for any part of something; does not imply breakage

  • bit

    even smaller than a piece; less specific about how it became separated

  • splinter

    a long, thin, sharp piece, especially of wood, glass, or metal

  • scrap

    usually for paper, fabric, or metal; implies cutting or tearing rather than shattering

Antonyms
  • whole

    the complete object, not separated into parts

  • entirety

    formal term for the whole of something

Usage Note

Common in physical breakage contexts (glass, pottery, bone, rock). Also extends figuratively to incomplete pieces of information, writing, or memory. Unlike 'scrap' (for paper or fabric), 'fragment' usually implies that the original object was hard or brittle.

Common Mistakes

I found a fragment of paper on the desk.
I found a scrap of paper on the desk.
'fragment' implies breakage from a hard or brittle object, while 'scrap' is better for paper that was cut or torn.
She ate a fragment of the cake.
She ate a small piece of the cake.
'fragment' suggests breakage or damage; 'piece' is neutral and works for food.

2. a piece that has come off something hard and fragile, like a clay pot, glass bot

2.nounC1
Definition

a piece that has come off something hard and fragile, like a clay pot, glass bottle, or ancient object that was once whole

Example

Nila labeled each clay fragment from the excavation with the date and location.

archaeological context: clay fragment from excavation

The museum displayed a Roman glass fragment that was over two thousand years old.

collocation: Roman glass fragment

Common collocations
  • pottery fragment
  • ceramic fragment
  • clay fragment
  • ancient fragment
  • archaeological fragment
  • glass fragment (archaeology)
  • Roman fragment
  • bone fragment (archaeology)
Synonyms
  • shard

    the most common word for a broken piece of glass or pottery; natural in everyday language

  • sherd

    archaeological abbreviation of 'potsherd'; used mainly by specialists

  • potsherd

    a fragment of broken pottery; the most precise formal term in archaeology

Antonyms

Usage Note

More specific than sense 1 — applies mainly to brittle materials like ceramic, glass, or bone. Frequently used in archaeology and museum contexts. The synonyms 'shard' (common for glass or pottery) and 'sherd' (archaeological shorthand for potsherd) are more precise alternatives in these fields.

Common Mistakes

The mirror broke into fragments on the bathroom floor.
The mirror shattered on the bathroom floor.' or 'The mirror broke into pieces on the bathroom floor.
'fragment' is acceptable here but 'shard' is the more natural word for a piece of broken glass.
A fragment of the wooden table broke off.
A splinter of the wooden table broke off.
'fragment' is best for brittle materials; 'splinter' is the natural word for wood.

fragment — verb

IPA/fræɡˈment/
KK[frˈæɡmənt]IPA/fræɡˈment/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A 'fragment' is a small part that has broken off from something larger, especially a hard or brittle object like glass, bone, or pottery. A 'piece' is the broadest and most neutral word — it can be any part of anything, whether broken or not ('a piece of cake,' 'a piece of paper'). A 'bit' is even smaller and more casual ('a bit of string'), without any implication of breakage. A 'splinter' is long, thin, and sharp, typically from wood, metal, or glass, and often carries the sense of something that can pierce the skin. A 'scrap' is a small leftover piece of paper, fabric, or metal, usually after cutting or tearing rather than shattering. A 'shard' overlaps most closely with 'fragment' but is used almost exclusively for glass and pottery. For example: 'He picked a glass splinter out of his finger.' / 'She kept a scrap of the wedding dress fabric as a keepsake.' / 'The archaeologist held up a pottery shard from the dig.'

piece ↗bit ↗splinter ↗scrap ↗shard

Common collocations

Nouns

  • fragment size
  • fragment analysis
  • fragment count
  • fragment pattern

Adverbs

Phrases

  • break into fragments
  • reduce to fragments
  • shatter into fragments
  • fragment of information
  • fragment of memory

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'fragment' comes from Latin 'fragmentum' (a piece broken off), which comes from the verb 'frangere' (to break). The same root gives us many other English words including 'fracture,' 'fragile,' 'fraction,' 'fractal,' and 'infringe.' The word entered English through Old French in the early 15th century, originally used for broken pieces of stone or bone before expanding to more general and figurative uses over time.