# fractal

/ˈfɹæktəɫ/ (US) · /fɹˈæktəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fractal
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

a complex shape that looks the same no matter how much you zoom in or out. It is made by repeating a simple pattern over and over again.

For teachers: a geometric shape that exhibits self-similarity at various scales, meaning that each part of the shape is a smaller copy of the whole. Often generated by recursive mathematical algorithms.

## Examples

- The coastline looks like a fractal when you look at it from a distance.
- Mathematicians use fractals to model natural phenomena like the branching of trees or the formation of clouds.
- The Mandelbrot set is one of the most famous examples of a fractal, demonstrating how an infinitely complex boundary can be generated from a simple iterative equation.

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