What does shard mean?
A shard is a fragment of something hard that has broken or split away from the whole. The word is commonly used for pieces of glass, crystal, stone, pottery, and ice, often with the implication that the fragments are sharp or potentially dangerous. It can also describe a small portion of a larger whole, as in a shard of evidence or a shard of an ancient manuscript. Compared with more general words such as piece or fragment, “shard” suggests a hard material that has been broken apart. In figurative contexts, it can evoke brokenness, incompleteness, or a surviving piece of a larger story. The word is natural in both literal and literary writing and is particularly effective when the image of something fractured is important.
A fragment of a hard substance broken or split from a larger mass.
"The impact left a long shard embedded in the rock."
Often used for glass, crystal, stone, pottery, or ice; may suggest sharpness.
A small piece or fragment of something larger, especially information, evidence, or a collection.
"The manuscript contains a shard of text from a much earlier version."
A figurative sense suggesting that the larger whole is incomplete or fragmented.
To break or split into shards.
"The brittle material shattered and shard[?] across the floor."
Less common than the noun and often used in descriptions of hard or brittle materials.
The standard plural is “shards.”
"Thousands of shards of glass covered the pavement."
From broken glass to a fragment of memory, a shard is the small piece that still carries part of the whole.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shard come from?
The word comes from Old English sceard, meaning a broken piece or fragment. It is related to the Old English verb sceeran, “to split or break,” and ultimately to a Germanic root associated with splitting or separating. The modern form developed through Middle English sound changes and shortening. Its relatives include words such as shear and shred, which preserve related ideas of division or cutting.
Related word forms
How shard is actually used
The word is especially common for pieces of glass, crystal, stone, pottery, and ice. Its figurative use suggests that the whole is broken, incomplete, or only partially understood.
Easily confused with shard
A splinter is usually a thin, sharp piece of wood or another material, whereas a shard is a more general term for a fragment of a hard substance.
A shred is often a narrow strip or irregular piece, especially of paper or fabric, while a shard tends to be a hard, solid fragment.