PoliticsJuly 14, 2026

shard

/ʃɑːrd/

Definition

A small, broken piece or fragment, specifically referring here to the divisive splintering of political parties into many small, ineffective groups.

Etymology

Originating from the Middle English 'sharde,' meaning a piece of broken pottery or tile, the word comes from the Old English 'sceard,' meaning a notch, gap, or fragment. It evolved to describe any sharp or broken piece of a larger whole.

In the news

In this article, the word is used metaphorically to criticize how politicians divide their movements into numerous tiny parties rather than uniting, which the author describes as creating multiple 'shards' that weaken their collective impact.

Netanyahu's goal is a political tie, another election, former adviser says

Read the full article ↗

The Jerusalem Post

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