Abstract.   We explore the concepts of shattered and order-shattered sets. In particular, for every family ℱ of subsets of {1,2,…,m} there are exactly |ℱ| subsets of {1,2,…,m} order-shattered by ℱ. This provides proofs and strengthenings of the result of Sauer, Perles and Shelah, Vapnik and Chervonenkis (sometimes known as Sauer's lemma) and a new approach to the reverse Sauer Inequality of Bollobás and Radcliffe. We characterize those sets which can be order-shattered by a uniform family and those sets which can be order-shattered by an antichain. We also give an algebraic interpretation of order shattering using Gröbner bases. This results in sharpening of a theorem of Frankl and Pach. It also points out an interesting and promising connection between combinatorial and algebraic objects.