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

Then, the attackers tossed the remnants of the bodies down a 49.2-foot (15-meter) natural shaft linked to a cave system. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024

Minority groups, including Druze, Christians and Alawite populations, also composed a southern rebel alliance that helped defeat Assad, and a big question remains as to how the new opposition forces in power will treat the remnants of Assad’s Ba’ath party. —Brad Dress, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024

Adjective

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

It's believed that by the 1930s all wolves in the Lower 48 were gone except for one remnant population in northern Minnesota. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 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