vestige

play

noun ves·tige \ ˈve-stij \

Updated on: 9 Aug 2017

Definition of vestige

1 a (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 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

See vestige defined for English-language learners

See vestige defined for kids

vestige was our Word of the Day on 08/12/2016. Hear the podcast!

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 of vestige from the Web

Read More: Why Venezuelans fear the dark Venezuela has been racked by months of turmoil as the socialist Nicolás Maduro administration has begun rewriting the constitution in a move that critics fear will destroy the last vestiges of democracy.

— jim wyss, miamiherald, "Pence warns of new sanctions against Venezuela as he begins Latin America trip," 13 Aug. 2017
The last vestige of the amusement park, the carousel disappeared in 2012, during the latest remodel.

— anna marum, OregonLive.com, "Jantzen Beach Center sells to investment firm for $132 million," 11 July 2017
But the divisions in the G20 run far deeper than frustration with Trump: The body itself is a vestige of a world that no long exists.

— thomas wright, The Atlantic, "The G20 Is Obsolete," 11 July 2017
If department stores are archaic vestiges of a world gone by, one can argue that the coal industry is, too.

— philip bump, Washington Post, "Why is Trump more worried about coal miners than department store employees?," 10 July 2017
The skirmishes are the vestiges of an utterly devastating urban battle in Mosul’s Old City, where government forces and the terrorists struggled over every inch of turf.

— jen kirby, Daily Intelligencer, "Iraqi Army Declares Victory Over ISIS in Mosul," 10 July 2017
IS’s vestiges, though, may anyway be one of the lesser problems facing Iraq.

— The Economist, "Islamic State nears its end," 5 July 2017
An original holder for recipes, a vestige of the 1950s, also remains.

— shari rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "Hot Property: Once a contest first prize, this Mid-Century home could be yours for $215K," 23 June 2017
The Fat Ham The King of Prussia location of this Southern-style bar, the last vestige of chef Kevin Sbraga’s dining empire, has closed.

— michael klein, Philly.com, "Let's Eat: Raising the roof in Center City; poutine on South Street," 21 June 2017

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.

vestige, Trace, and Track

Vestige is derived via Middle French from the Latin noun vestigium, meaning "footstep, footprint, or track." Like trace and track, vestige can refer to a perceptible sign made by something that has now passed. Of the three words, vestige is the most likely to apply to a tangible reminder, such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone. Trace, on the other hand, may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect ("the snowfield is pockmarked with the traces of caribou"). Track implies a continuous line that can be followed ("the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs").

Origin and Etymology of vestige

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin vestigium footstep, footprint, track, vestige

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

vestige Synonyms

Synonyms

echo, ghost, relic, shadow, trace

Related Words

memento, remembrance, reminder; artifact; afterimage, aftertaste; balance, corpse, hangover, leftover, oddment, remainder, remnant, scrap; dreg (s), leavings, remain (s), residual, residue, rest

Synonym Discussion of 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

VESTIGE Defined for English Language Learners

vestige

play

noun

Definition of vestige for English Language Learners

: the last small part that remains of something that existed before
: the smallest possible amount of something

VESTIGE Defined for Kids

vestige

play

noun ves·tige \ ˈve-stij \

Definition of vestige for Students

:a tiny amount or visible sign of something lost or vanished :trace

We stayed outside to enjoy the last vestiges of daylight.

Medical Dictionary

vestige

play

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