fractional
adjective
frac·tion·al
ˈfrak-sh(ə-)nəl 
1
: of, relating to, or being a fraction
2
: of, relating to, or being fractional currency
3
: relatively small : inconsiderable
4
: of, relating to, or involving a process for separating components of a mixture through differences in physical or chemical properties
fractional distillation
fractionally
adverb
Examples of fractional in a Sentence
There has been a fractional rise in the price of the stock.
There is only a fractional improvement in the new version.
Recent Examples on the Web
Although negotiations with China should be mainly about controls rather than limits, there is one nuclear system the United States should push China, as well as Russia, to ban: the fractional orbital bombardment system, or FOBS.
—
Rose Gottemoeller, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2025
Today, thanks to the rise of private equity funds and fractional investing platforms, that door is cracking open for accredited investors.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Future plans call for four- and five-bedroom beachfront homes to its fractional and full-ownership options at the resort’s Villas at Pinney’s Beach.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2025
With fractional losses for the S&P 500 and the Dow.
—Nyse, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fractional
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rose Gottemoeller, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2025
Today, thanks to the rise of private equity funds and fractional investing platforms, that door is cracking open for accredited investors.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Future plans call for four- and five-bedroom beachfront homes to its fractional and full-ownership options at the resort’s Villas at Pinney’s Beach.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2025
With fractional losses for the S&P 500 and the Dow.
—Nyse, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fractional
Cite this Entry
“Fractional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fractional. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fractional
adjective
frac·tion·al
ˈfrak-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or being a fraction
fractional equivalents of percentages
2
: fairly small
fractionally
adverb
-ē
Medical Definition
fractional
adjective
frac·tion·al
-shən-ᵊl, -shnəl
: of, relating to, or involving a process for separating components of a mixture through differences in physical or chemical properties
fractional distillation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share