vestige

noun

ves·tige | \ ˈve-stij

Definition of vestige

1a(1) : a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something (such as an ancient city or a condition or practice) vanished or lost

(2) : the smallest quantity or trace

b : footprint sense 1

2 : a bodily part or organ that is small and degenerate or imperfectly developed in comparison to one more fully developed in an earlier stage of the individual, in a past generation, or in closely related forms

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Vestige, Trace, and Track Example Sentences Learn More About vestige

Choose the Right Synonym for vestige

trace, vestige, track mean a perceptible sign made by something that has passed. trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect. the killer left no traces 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 track implies a continuous line that can be followed. the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

Examples of vestige in a Sentence

a few strange words carved on a tree were the only vestige of the lost colony of Roanoke the fossilized vestige of a dinosaur that traversed that muddy landscape millions of years ago

Recent Examples on the Web This February, another vestige of the dog track came down. — Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 1 June 2022 Freight rail jobs are a vestige of the unionized middle class and historically have been one of the top industries by pay for workers without a college degree. — Eli M. Rosenberg, NBC News, 19 July 2022 Once the rebellious mark of sailors and bikers, tattoos long ago shed any vestige of being a fringe art form. — New York Times, 19 June 2022 But the governor’s success as a pro-choice Republican looks to be a vestige of a time nearly gone. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 24 June 2022 But in lawsuits filed last week in federal court, plaintiffs said the project was improperly vetted, would damage the area’s flora, fauna and cultural history, and is a vestige of Trump administration logging initiatives. — Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2022 Guin’s manners were a vestige of her Mormon childhood, a way of life killed as suddenly as her father was: his own gun, their garage, eleven in the morning. — Kathleen Alcott, Harper’s Magazine , 27 Apr. 2022 Turning it into a public plaza is an infinitely better use of this sad piece of thoroughfare — a vestige of the urban planning disaster that has been Bunker Hill. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2022 Is the underwire bra an enduring vestige of antiquated beauty standards dictated by the male gaze? — Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vestige.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near vestige

vestibulo-urethral

vestige

vestigial

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Last Updated

12 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Vestige.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vestige. Accessed 13 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for vestige

vestige

noun

ves·tige | \ ˈve-stij

Kids Definition of vestige

: a tiny amount or visible sign of something lost or vanished : trace We stayed outside to enjoy the last vestiges of daylight.

vestige

noun

ves·tige | \ ˈves-tij

Medical Definition of vestige

: a bodily part or organ that is small and degenerate or imperfectly developed in comparison to one more fully developed in an earlier stage of the individual, in a past generation, or in closely related forms