remnant

1 of 2

noun

rem·​nant ˈrem-nənt How to pronounce remnant (audio)
1
a
: a usually small part, member, or trace remaining
b
: a small surviving group
often used in plural
2
: an unsold or unused end of piece goods

remnant

2 of 2

adjective

: still remaining

Examples of remnant in a Sentence

Noun Remnants go on sale next week. sailed home with just a remnant of the colony's original population aboard
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Its priceless artefacts include the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles (renamed the Parthenon Sculptures by those who believe they should be returned to Greece) and the remnants of an Anglo-Saxon ship burial from Sutton Hoo. Caroline Frost, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2025 The skull fragments, teeth, jaws and other remains unearthed at different sites across the country are clearly remnants of archaic hominins — the formal name for species in the human lineage — who lived between 300,000 and 100,000 years ago. Katie Hunt, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Then a tiny remnant population was found surviving in Bixby Cove near Big Sur in 1914, site of the now Instagram famous Bixby bridge. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024 Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani vowed to dissolve the Assad regime's remnant security forces as well as close prisons that had been used to house political dissidents. Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for remnant 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, contraction of remenant, from Anglo-French remanant, from present participle of remaindre to remain — more at remain entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of remnant was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near remnant

Cite this Entry

“Remnant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/remnant. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

remnant

noun
rem·​nant
ˈrem-nənt
1
: a surviving usually small part
remnants of a great civilization
2
: something that remains or is left over
a remnant of cloth

More from Merriam-Webster on remnant

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