relic

noun

rel·​ic ˈre-lik 

1

a

: an object esteemed and venerated because of association with a saint or martyr

b

: souvenir, memento

2

relics plural : remains, corpse

3

: a survivor or remnant left after decay, disintegration, or disappearance

4

: a trace of some past or outmoded practice, custom, or belief

Synonyms of relic

• artifact
• trace
• remnant
• vestige
• ghost
• reminder
• echo
• shadow

Examples of relic in a Sentence

a crude stone ax and other relics of the Neanderthals

in my grandparents' attic are many “groovy” relics from the 1960s

Recent Examples on the Web

For golf cart operators, that evolution absolutely begins by ditching archaic lead-acid relics engineered for a bygone era. — Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 24 June 2026

The existing facility is a relic of communist-era architecture worn down by decades of neglect. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 24 June 2026

The Declaration of Independence, with its block of cursive letters scrawled onto parchment, looks like a relic from the distant past. — Robert Parkinson, The Conversation, 24 June 2026

Preservation advocates warn that selling wreck relics to private collectors risks turning a maritime grave into a billionaire trophy hunt, even as Titanic memorabilia command multimillion-dollar bids worldwide. — Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English relik, from Anglo-French relike, from Medieval Latin reliquia, from Late Latin reliquiae, plural, remains of a martyr, from Latin, remains, from relinquere to leave behind — more at relinquish

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing relic

• relic of the past

Rhymes for relic

• telic
• allelic
• angelic
• philatelic
• psychedelic

Kids Definition

relic

noun

rel·​ic ˈrel-ik 

1

: an object treated with great respect because of its connection with a saint or martyr

2

: something left behind after decay or disappearance

relics of ancient cities