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

• 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

Eight other jewels - all relics of France's imperial history - remain missing. —NPR, 25 Oct. 2025

Chloé’s Re-edition Paddington Bag An early-aughts fashion relic returns to the scene, two decades on, and is more relevant than ever. —Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2025

Mamdani, who decried his two opponents as relics of the city's old politics, struggled to take a stand on issues key to housing and schools. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025

Both are now antiquated relics to be housed, and studied, in a museum. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 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