remnant

1 of 2

noun

rem·​nant ˈrem-nənt 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• balance
• leavings
• leftovers
• odds and ends
• remainder
• remains
• residue
• residuum
• rest

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

Noun

But now the remnants of that millenniums-old history are in danger of being damaged or even lost. —Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2024

Afterward, as my husband took our son to a practice room to work on his part, my daughter and I drove an hour east to the Sirmione Peninsula, the narrow remnant of a mountain that, many thousands of years ago, divided the southern end of Lake Garda into eastern and western lobes. —Julie Orringer, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2024

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

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