1
: a narrow opening or crack of considerable length and depth usually occurring from some breaking or parting
a fissure in the earth's crust
2
a
: a natural cleft between body parts or in the substance of an organ
b
: a break or slit in tissue usually at the junction of skin and mucous membrane
3
: a separation or disagreement in thought or viewpoint : schism
fissures in a political party
fissured; fissuring
Synonyms
Examples of fissure in a Sentence
Noun
a fissure in the Earth's crust
a deep fissure in the ice
Recent Examples on the Web
Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 1 Oct. 2024
In the worst case, deploying the military in a nakedly partisan fashion could cause fissures within the rank and file and perhaps even split the military itself along partisan lines.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 2024
Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 July 2024
Popular on Variety Heartache is the album’s narrative throughline, and .Paak takes listeners through a relationship that’s fissured beyond repair.
—John Kennedy, Variety, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for fissure 
Noun
The death penalty exposes the cracks and fissures amongst liberals and progressives.
—Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 1 Oct. 2024
In the worst case, deploying the military in a nakedly partisan fashion could cause fissures within the rank and file and perhaps even split the military itself along partisan lines.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 2024
Verb
Bravo’s cameras were rolling as Team Teresa and Team Melissa took their places, representing how deep the relationship between the sisters-in-law has fissured after 14 and 12 seasons, respectively, for the Real Housewives icons.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 July 2024
Popular on Variety Heartache is the album’s narrative throughline, and .Paak takes listeners through a relationship that’s fissured beyond repair.
—John Kennedy, Variety, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for fissure
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fissure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fissure
Cite this Entry
“Fissure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fissure. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
fissure
noun
fis·sure
ˈfish-ər, British also ˈfish-yu̇r 
1
: a natural cleft between body parts or in the substance of an organ: as
a
: any of several clefts separating the lobes of the liver
b
: any of various clefts between bones or parts of bones in the skull
c
: any of the deep clefts of the brain
especially
: one of those located at points of elevation in the walls of the ventricles compare sulcus
d
2
: a break or slit in tissue usually at the junction of skin and mucous membrane
fissure of the lip
3
: a linear developmental imperfection in the enamel of a tooth
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