WordGarden.iofractional
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /frˈækʃənəl/
US
- /ˈfrækʃənəl/
Meanings
Adjective
relating to or expressed as a fraction rather than a whole number
forming only part of a whole
very small in amount or degree
More meaningsFewer meanings
involving separation into successive portions, especially in chemistry
Beyond the definition
Something that's fractional is not a whole thing; it is one part of something larger. Think of slicing a pie: each slice is only part of the full pie. The word is often used with numbers, shares, amounts, and time. Fractional ownership means you own only part of something. A fractional share is less than one full share. In work, a fractional role is a part-time role, often done for more than one company.
The word comes from "fraction," which means a part of a whole. So whenever something is divided into smaller parts, this word may fit.
"Fractional" describes something that is only part of a whole, rather than the whole thing itself. It is most common in math, finance, business, and science. In math, it can describe values that are less than one whole or that involve fractions, such as a fractional exponent. In finance, a fractional share means less than one full share of stock. In property, fractional ownership means several people each own part of the same asset.
The word is also used for time and work. A person in a fractional role works for part of the usual time, often sharing their skills across several clients or companies. That is why people now talk about fractional CFOs, CTOs, or other leaders who work part-time instead of filling a full-time job.
In science, the word appears in terms like fractional distillation, a process that separates a liquid mixture into parts based on different boiling points. In all of these cases, the main idea stays the same: something is divided, shared, or measured as less than a complete unit.
Sometimes the word can also suggest that something exists in small parts or incomplete amounts, but that use is less common than the clearer senses tied to numbers, shares, ownership, and part-time work. Whether you are talking about math, money, work, or science, fractional usually points to one basic idea: a part of something larger, not the whole of it.
Examples
- 1
Very short time
The camera can record changes that happen in fractional seconds.
- 2
Investing
You can start investing with fractional shares if you do not want to buy a whole stock.
- Domainfractional shares
parts of one full share
- 3
Property ownership
The condo was sold through fractional ownership, so each buyer could use it for a few weeks each year.
- Domainfractional ownership
a system where several people each own part of one property
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- non-integer
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- fractional share
- fractional ownership
- fractional amount
- fractional part
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- fractionaladjective