segment

1 of 2

noun

seg·​ment ˈseg-mənt How to pronounce segment (audio)
1
: a portion cut off from a geometric figure by one or more points, lines, or planes: such as
a
: the area of a circle bounded by a chord and an arc of that circle
b
: the part of a sphere cut off by a plane or included between two parallel planes
c
: the finite part of a line between two points in the line
2
a
: a separate piece of something : bit, fragment
chop the stalks into short segments
b
: one of the constituent parts into which a body, entity, or quantity is divided or marked off by or as if by natural boundaries
all segments of the population agree
segmentary adjective

segment

2 of 2

verb

seg·​ment ˈseg-ˌment How to pronounce segment (audio)
segmented; segmenting; segments

transitive verb

: to separate into segments : give off as segments
Choose the Right Synonym for segment

part, portion, piece, member, division, section, segment, fragment mean something less than the whole.

part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

Examples of segment in a Sentence

Noun The railroad track is divided into segments. I think I lost one segment of this model kit. Verb Market researchers have segmented the population into different age groups.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
While several audience members are showcased nodding along and listening, during the mother-daughter segment, others seem to be vigorously shaking their heads in dissent. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 Cancer can occur in any of these segments, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive colonoscopy when indicated. Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Whoosh was more than $1 billion over budget, and four years late, on its first $7.2 billion segment. Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024 The Tennis Channel celebrated Gauff's birthday with her during a sweet on-air segment. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 Each upgrade is selling for a $49 introductory rate per flight segment for travel between April 10 and April 30. Stella Shon, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2024 For instance, the brand’s Samba and Gazelle shoes have helped prop up its footwear and apparel segments’ performance in 2023. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 13 Mar. 2024 Madonna wheelchair incident follows AIDS tribute segment flub featuring Luther Vandross That wasn't the only flub made by Madonna during The Celebration Tour. Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 Yes, the long segments made the show drag a tiny bit, but it was clearly built into the running time. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
Verb
One approach to this balancing act is to segment the market according to values. François Candelon, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 The Super Bowl remains the largest television advertising event, no matter how segmented the media world becomes. James Powel, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 With seven detachable containers, each a different color, labeled for the day of the week, and conveniently segmented for morning and night doses, managing your medication schedule becomes a breeze. Austa Somvichian-Clausen, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2024 The sheer black skirt was segmented into each sign, with its corresponding animal and symbol embroidered at the hem. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2024 Communication professionals need to segment beyond regional or country level. Ajay Khari, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Sternum suggests avoiding the exposure of any of these units to the wider Internet, segmenting it into a subnet away from sensitive devices, if possible. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 16 May 2023 Advertisement Paradise Dynasty’s radish pastries are finely segmented and impossibly flaky, with delicate layers of dough that almost disappear upon meeting the tongue. Lucas Kwan Peterson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2023 After years of pressure to increase data sharing in the health care system, new efforts would require software makers to ensure that health care providers can easily segment and protect specific information from disclosure when requested by patients. Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 7 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'segment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin segmentum, from secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of segment was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near segment

Cite this Entry

“Segment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/segment. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

segment

1 of 2 noun
seg·​ment ˈseg-mənt How to pronounce segment (audio)
1
: any of the parts into which a thing is divided or naturally separates : section, division
2
a
: a part cut off from a geometric figure by a line
especially : the part of a circle enclosed by a chord and an arc
b
: a part of a straight line included between two points

called also line segment

segmented
ˈseg-ˌment-əd
seg-ˈment-
adjective

segment

2 of 2 verb
seg·​ment ˈseg-ˌment How to pronounce segment (audio)
: to separate into segments

Medical Definition

segment

1 of 2 noun
seg·​ment ˈseg-mənt How to pronounce segment (audio)
: one of the constituent parts into which a body, entity, or quantity is divided or marked off by or as if by natural boundaries
bronchopulmonary segments
the affected segment of the colon was resected

segment

2 of 2 transitive verb
seg·​ment ˈseg-ˌment How to pronounce segment (audio)
1
: to cause to undergo segmentation by division or multiplication of cells
2
: to separate into segments

More from Merriam-Webster on segment

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