dreg

noun

ˈdreg 

1

: sediment contained in a liquid or precipitated (see precipitate entry 1 sense 3a) from it : lees

—usually used in plural

coffee dregs at the bottom of the cup

2

: the most undesirable part

—usually used in plural

the dregs of society

3

: the last remaining part : vestige

—usually used in plural

the last dregs of fuel

dreggy

ˈdre-gē 

adjective

Synonyms

• deposit
• deposition
• grounds
• precipitate
• sediment
• settlings

Examples of dreg in a Sentence

poured the dregs into the sink

Recent Examples on the Web

Finding the right tune each night in the dregs of the regular season is a more difficult challenge. —Michael Shapiro, Chron, 22 Apr. 2023

The woman, perhaps a prostitute, is shown flicking dregs of wine from a cup at a target in a game the Greeks called kottabos. —Tom Mashberg, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2023

After completing the final episode, I was reminded of the early comparison to The Hunger Games, the dystopian novel and film in which teenagers from society’s dregs murder each other on television to entertain the genteel. —Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 9 Mar. 2023

Such critics in turn have usually not listened to the stories and experience of those who have drunk the current medical cocktail of gender transitioning to its bitter dregs— the growing numbers of detransitioners. —John Grabowski, National Review, 3 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old Norse dregg; perhaps akin to Latin fraces dregs of oil

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1