remnant

1 of 2

noun

rem·​nant ˈrem-nənt How to pronounce remnant (audio)
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

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
Coney Island, along with one of its last remnants, Sunlite Pool, closed Dec. 31, 2023. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 9 Mar. 2024 The camp locations have few, if any, remnants of their wartime history. Claire Moses, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Mark Morris Dance Group’s yearly run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (March 20-23) is one of the remnants of BAM’s once rich dance offerings. The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024 While trekking through the mountains with a picture-perfect ocean view, visitors should keep their eyes peeled for remnants of the long-running TV show M*A*S*H, which was shot here between 1972 and 1983. Jordi Lippe, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2024 She was found by a boy scout troop leader who initially saw clothing remnants before discovering her remains inside of a grave, police said. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2024 Most of that rain came from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary on Aug. 20, 2023. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 20 Feb. 2024 Our brains have evolved to prioritize survival—a remnant of times when our lives were constantly threatened. Mark Travers, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024 Aptly, the remnants of a sandstorm covered the red carpet at one of the biggest premieres the entertainment hotspot has ever seen. Thr Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024
Adjective
She’s also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia — or long-lasting, pervasive pain throughout the body — and ovarian remnant syndrome. Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2024 Born from a violent planetary collision more than four billion years ago, the moon still harbors remnant internal heat that’s slowly seeping into space. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024 Because no liquid is involved, there is no risk of wicking up remnant stain from the carpet padding. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 On other front lines, U.S. forces are still deployed in Iraq and Syria to contain remnant cells of the Islamic State, whose caliphate collapsed five years ago. Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2024 Scientists believe the asteroid, known as 16 Psyche, may be remnant core material of a small planetesimal that was broken up in the distant past. William Harwood, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2023 Her relative obscurity is a reminder that this planetary nebula, located about 2,300 light-years away from Earth, will outlive us all, as well as any remnant memories of us. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 12 Dec. 2023 Yet this single global plate is still thought to experience flexing and accumulate stresses from the remnant heat bubbling up from the planet’s slowly cooling, partially molten core. Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023 Tropical Storm Hermine on Sunday was continuing to bring rain to the Canary Islands and is poised to become a remnant low, forecasters said. Steve Svekis, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'remnant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of remnant was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near remnant

Cite this Entry

“Remnant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/remnant. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

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