fragmentary

/ˌfrægmənˈtɛri/

Other forms: fragmentarily

Anything fragmentary is made up of tiny parts or pieces, and it's usually missing some of them. Archaeologists are always discovering fragmentary remnants of ancient societies which they have to try and piece back together.

Something fragmentary is in fragments, or broken bits. The Latin root is fragmentum, "a remnant," or literally, "a piece broken off." Fragmentary things have been broken or have decomposed, and there's no guarantee that all the pieces can still be found. What will your sister say when she sees the fragmentary remains of that bowl she made in art class?

Definitions of fragmentary

1. adjective

   consisting of small disconnected parts
   “fragmentary remains”

   synonyms: fragmental, snippy

   fractional

   constituting or comprising a part or fraction of a possible whole or entirety