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

This section sees Samus arriving at a Galactic Federation station to help combat an invasion of pirates led by Sylux, who is seeking a mysterious relic. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025

Those images show no relics of the Seaquarium’s marine-mammal performance spaces that were the Virginia Key property’s main draw since the 1950s. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025

Digital services from both Apple and Google may soon make physical wallets feel like relics. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2025

At the dawn of the ’90s, Rumours was widely viewed as a relic of soft-rock excess, while Fleetwood Mac themselves were regarded as little more than a guilty pleasure. —Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025

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