fractionally

Fractionally is an adverb derived from fraction, used to describe something related to fractions or occurring to a fractional extent. It can refer to quantities that are not whole numbers, or to degrees of change expressed as a fraction of a whole. In mathematics and related fields, the term often appears in contexts involving fractional parts, ratios, or partial amounts.

In mathematical language, fractionally can describe actions or measurements that involve fractions. For example, the fractional part of a real number is the portion after the decimal point, such as the 0.14159… in pi. In applied contexts, one might say a value increased fractionally, meaning it rose by a small, partial amount rather than a whole unit.

In everyday discourse, fractionally commonly conveys a sense of partial extent or hedging. For instance, stating that something is fractionally higher or fractionally worse suggests a small difference rather than a large one. This usage tends to emphasize nuance or caution rather than certainty.

Etymology traces fractionally to fraction, via the English suffix -ly, with earliest uses dating to the early modern period. Related terms include fractional, fraction, fractional part, and fractionally charged, the latter used in physics to describe particles carrying a non-integer multiple of a fundamental unit of charge.

Overall, fractionally functions as a flexible modifier across mathematics, science, and everyday language, signaling partiality, fractional quantities, or small degrees of difference.