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

However, the comet’s remnant is still visible and will be for a few weeks, according to experts. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025

The space projectile was later identified as a remnant of a battery pallet thrown out of the International Space Station three years earlier. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Sand grains in a second remnant channel 85 kilometers downstream also dated back 2500 years. —Byeli Kintisch, science.org, 17 June 2024

Sheba Abernathy, a resident of Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, serves as volunteer steward at Superior Street Prairie, a remnant prairie in Calumet City. —Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025

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