frag: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumInformal, Slang, Jargon (Gaming/Military)
Quick answer
What does “frag” mean?
A fragmentation grenade.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fragmentation grenade; a type of explosive weapon designed to produce high-velocity fragments upon detonation.
In gaming and informal military contexts: to kill or eliminate an opponent, especially in a video game or simulated combat, often by explosive means. Informally: to attack or sabotage a superior officer (military slang).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning. Usage is dictated more by subculture (gamer/military) than by nationality.
Connotations
Connotes tactical gameplay, competition, or (historically) extreme insubordination.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse in both regions. Slightly more common in global online gaming communities.
Grammar
How to Use “frag” in a Sentence
[Subject] frags [Object][Subject] is fragged by [Agent]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “frag” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I managed to frag the enemy sniper with a well-thrown grenade.
- He was fragged in the last seconds of the match.
American English
- Just fragged the whole squad with one rocket!
- In the old story, the disgruntled private tried to frag his lieutenant.
adverb
British English
- (Not standardly used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not standardly used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- The frag count is displayed on the scoreboard.
- He suffered frag wounds from the explosion.
American English
- A frag grenade rolled into the bunker.
- The report listed several frag casualties.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or sociological studies of military language/gaming culture.
Everyday
Very rare; limited to gamers discussing games.
Technical
Military: refers to the M67 or similar grenade. Gaming: a key performance metric in first-person shooters.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “frag”
- Using 'frag' in formal writing.
- Confusing 'frag' (verb) with 'flag' (noun/verb).
- Assuming it's a standard English word for 'break'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal slang, primarily used in military and gaming contexts.
Yes, most commonly as a noun meaning a kill in a video game ("He got 20 frags") or short for 'frag grenade'.
In gaming, they are often synonymous, but 'frag' is genre-specific jargon (especially for FPS games), while 'kill' is generic.
It is a shortening of 'fragmentation grenade'. The verb meaning 'to kill with such a grenade' extended to general killing in games and, in dark military slang, to attacks on superiors.
A fragmentation grenade.
Frag: in British English it is pronounced /fræɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /fræɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fragged and tagged.”
- “Going for the frag.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sound a FRAGmentation grenade makes: FR-AG! It FR-AGs the enemy.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS WAR ("fragging opponents in a tournament").
Practice
Quiz
In its original military context, what did 'to frag' primarily mean?