Word
fragmentary
Phoneticsfrag·men·tary
US/ˈfɹæɡmənˌtɛɹi/
UK/fɹæɡmˈɛntəɹi/
Definition
adj. made up of many small, separate pieces that do not form a complete whole. You use this to describe things like broken rocks or incomplete information.
adj. consisting of separate, disconnected parts that do not form a complete whole. Often used to describe geological formations or historical records that are incomplete.
Examples
“The geologist studied the fragmentary remains of the ancient volcano.”
“Archaeologists found fragmentary evidence of the lost civilization, including a few broken pottery shards and a single stone tablet.”
“The report was based on fragmentary data collected over several decades, making it difficult for the researchers to draw a definitive conclusion about the site's history.”
Examples
simple
“The geologist studied the fragmentary remains of the ancient volcano.”
contextual
“Archaeologists found fragmentary evidence of the lost civilization, including a few broken pottery shards and a single stone tablet.”
complex
“The report was based on fragmentary data collected over several decades, making it difficult for the researchers to draw a definitive conclusion about the site's history.”
Real-World Examples
“Compared with neighboring areas such as Iberia in southwestern Europe or Athens in the eastern Mediterranean, archaeological evidence was often fragmentary.” “Translating even fragmentary texts is extremely valuable because precious few books from that period survive intact.” Etymology
From fragment + -ary.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/fragmentary