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A remnant, impression, or trace of an animal or plant of a past geologic age that has been preserved in the earth’s crust is called a fossil. Data from fossils are the primary source of information about the history of life on the earth. Only a small fraction of ancient organisms are preserved as fossils, and usually only organisms that have a solid skeleton or shell. Unaltered hard parts, such as the shells of clams, are relatively common in sedimentary rocks. The embedding of insects in amber and the preservation of mammoths in ice are rare but striking examples of the fossil preservation of soft tissues. Traces of organisms such as tracks and trails may also be preserved.
Examples of fossil in a Sentence
Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2025
The results revealed that modern shark teeth contain negligible uranium—less than one part per billion—while fossil teeth show significantly higher concentrations, reaching several hundred parts per million.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Scott Travers, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
All of the early mammal fossils examined indicated the extinct animals had unpatterned, dark-brown coats.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Fossil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fossil. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fossil
1 of 2 adjective
fossil
2 of 2 noun
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