fractionally

"Fractionally" describes something happening by a very small amount or to a very small degree. It points to a difference that is real but tiny, sometimes so small that you almost do not notice it. For example, a runner might finish fractionally ahead of someone else, or a price might be fractionally higher than it was yesterday. The word is often used when people want to show that a change is small and exact, not large or dramatic.

The word "fractionally" indicates that something is happening, changing, or differing by a very small amount. The idea comes from a fraction, which is a part of a whole, so the word often suggests that the change is tiny but still real. It is useful when you want to describe a small gap, a slight rise, or a barely noticeable difference.

You will often see "fractionally" in contexts that involve measurement, comparison, or careful judgment. A scientist might say that a value has increased fractionally over time. In business or finance, someone might say a price is fractionally higher or lower than before. It can also describe small differences in speed, weight, size, or performance, as when one object is fractionally heavier than another or one team finishes fractionally behind another.

Compared with words like "slightly," "fractionally" often sounds a little more precise. It is especially natural when the speaker is thinking in terms of numbers, margins, or measurable differences. You would not normally use it for big emotional or dramatic changes. Instead, it fits those moments when something has moved just a little: a result is fractionally better, a room is fractionally warmer, or a decision is fractionally more likely to succeed. In short, it helps describe a change that is small, exact, and only part of a whole.