compound fracture

noun

: a bone fracture resulting in an open wound through which bone fragments usually protrude : open fracture compare simple fracture

Examples of compound fracture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of the victims suffered a compound fracture to the arm. — Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025 Having suffered compound fractures of both front ankles, she was euthanized on the track. — Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2024 He had been hit by a bike and suffered devastating injuries, including a compound fracture and a degloved paw. — Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Oct. 2025 The 41-year-old suffered a broken pelvis and sustained fractures to both femurs and three ribs, as well as a compound fracture to his right shin. — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for compound fracture

Word History

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of compound fracture was in 1543

Rhymes for compound fracture

See All Rhymes for compound fracture

Browse Nearby Words

compound fraction
compound fracture
compound householder
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compound fracture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compound%20fracture. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

compound fracture

noun
: a breaking of a bone in such a way as to produce an open wound through which bone fragments stick out compare simple fracture

Medical Definition

compound fracture

noun
: a bone fracture resulting in an open wound through which bone fragments usually protrude : open fracture compare simple fracture

More from Merriam-Webster on compound fracture

Nglish: Translation of compound fracture for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about compound fracture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All