Synonyms of vestige

vestige

noun

ˈve-stij 

1

as in relic

a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished

a few strange words carved on a tree were the only vestige of the lost colony of Roanoke

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relic
• trace
• remnant
• artifact
• echo
• shadow
• ghost
• reminder
• memento
• remembrance
• corpse
• rest
• remainder
• residual
• afterimage
• residue
• leftover
• aftertaste
• remain(s)
• hangover
• scrap
• leavings
• balance
• oddment
• dreg(s)

2

as in footstep

the mark or impression made by a foot

the fossilized vestige of a dinosaur that traversed that muddy landscape millions of years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

• footstep
• footprint
• trace
• step
• footmark
• track
• hoofprint
• tread
• pug
• spoor

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vestige distinct from other similar nouns?

The words trace and track are common synonyms of vestige. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," vestige applies to a tangible reminder such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone.

boulders that are vestiges of the last ice age

When could trace be used to replace vestige?

In some situations, the words trace and vestige are roughly equivalent. However, trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

Where would track be a reasonable alternative to vestige?

While the synonyms track and vestige are close in meaning, track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of vestige

Contrastingly, Molly Cunningham (Maya Boyd) has shed any vestige of her life in the South. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026

As in that case, many of Silver Court’s residents are about to lose one of the few vestiges of stable, deeply affordable housing in Miami-Dade. —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Upon first glance, the room looks like a typical parlor of its era, clinging to the vestiges of late Victorian décor that were quickly fading from fashion. —Laura E. Helton, Literary Hub, 20 Apr. 2026

Though the war ended in the 1990s, vestiges remained of the racial and ethnic conflict. —Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026

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