In the present study, the fracture mechanisms of smooth and notched specimens of a high manganese twinning‐induced plasticity (TWIP) steel are investigated quantitatively and compared to that of commercial 304 stainless (304SS) steel and interstitial free (IF) steel. The results show that the dominant fracture mechanism of TWIP steel can either be the formation of void sheets or the propagation of quasi‐cleavage cracks, while the fracture mechanism of 304SS and IF steel are void coalescence. The authors suggest that the special fracture mechanism of TWIP steel is responsible to its limited post elongation, high notch sensitivity, and low fracture toughness.