Meaning & use

fragmentation

noun·Academic

The process of breaking something into small, disconnected pieces or parts.

See it in a sentence

Years of political fragmentation left the country with dozens of small, competing parties.

Disk fragmentation can slow a computer down until the files are reorganized.

A note on using this word

Used literally for physical breakage and figuratively for social, political, or organizational splintering.

Words with a similar meaning

disintegrationbreakupdivision

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

unificationconsolidation

Make it your own

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