fragmentation

//ˌfræɡmənˈteɪʃən//
C1Frequency Level 11Formal
Visual representation of fragmentation

Noun

fragmentationSingular
fragmentationsPlural
1

The process or state of breaking or being broken into small or separate parts.

The fragmentation of the ancient pottery made it difficult for archaeologists to reconstruct the original vessel.

2

The division of something into smaller, disconnected, or incomplete pieces, often resulting in disorganization or loss of unity.

The fragmentation of the team led to poor communication and missed deadlines.

3

(Computing) The scattering of data files across non-contiguous areas of a storage device, reducing efficiency.

Disk fragmentation can slow down your computer's performance.