fraction
frac·tion/ˈfɹæk.ʃən/noun, verb
fraction is spelled F-R-A-C-T-I-O-N: 8 letters and 2 syllables (frac·tion). It appears 9.1 times per million words in written English, the 7,553rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, fraction means “A part of a whole, especially a comparatively small part” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of fraction is fractions.
How many letters and syllables are in fraction?
| Letters | 8: F-R-A-C-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: frac·tion |
| In writing | 9.1 times per million words; the 7,553rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is fraction?
Fraction appears 9.1 times per million words in written English, the 7,553rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce fraction?
- /ˈfɹæk.ʃən/
Fraction has 2 syllables, split frac·tion in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-fraction.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of fraction
- fractions plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- fractioning participle, present
- fractioned participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does fraction mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A part of a whole, especially a comparatively small part.
- 2
A ratio of two numbers (numerator and denominator), usually written one above the other and separated by a horizontal bar called the vinculum or, alternatively, in sequence on the same line and separated by a solidus (diagonal bar).
Gasoline prices show the mill as a fraction, for example $3.59+⁹⁄₁₀.
- 3
A component of a mixture, separated by fractionation.
- 4
In a eucharistic service, the breaking of the host.
- 5
A small amount.
- 6
archaicThe act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence.
verb
- 1
To divide or break into fractions.
- 2
To fractionate.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Fraction in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | fraction |
| German | Bruchteil , Bruch , Brotbrechen |
| Portuguese | fração, fracção |
| Spanish | fracción , quebrado |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does fraction come from?
From Middle English fraccioun (“a breaking”), from Anglo-Norman, Old French fraccion, from Medieval Latin fractio (“a fragment, portion”), from earlier Latin fractio (“a breaking, a breaking into pieces”), from fractus, past participle of frangere (“to break”) (whence English frangible), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (English break). Doublet of frazione.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).