noun

fracture

/ˈfræk.tʃər/ · say it: FRAK·chur

a break in a bone

In Medicine & Health

In more detail

1. (noun) a break in a bone or similar hard object

2. (verb) to break or crack something, especially a bone

Examples

1. She suffered a fracture of her leg in the skiing accident.
2. The impact fractured several ribs.

How to use fracture

Fracture is more formal and technical than break when referring to bones or rigid materials. It emphasizes a clean or significant separation rather than a mere crack. The word is common in medical, scientific, and technical contexts, and can also refer metaphorically to a breakdown in relationships or social unity.

Common phrases

fracture a bone
compound fracture
stress fracture
fracture line
fracture risk
sustain a fracture

Synonyms

break · crack · split · rupture · fissure

Word family

fractured (adjective) · fracturing (verb form)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use fracture exclusively for bones and miss its broader application to materials like glass, rock, or even abstract concepts like relationships.

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