Synonyms of vestige

vestige

noun

ˈve-stij 

1

as in relic

a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished

a few strange words carved on a tree were the only vestige of the lost colony of Roanoke

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relic
• trace
• remnant
• artifact
• echo
• shadow
• ghost
• reminder
• memento
• remembrance
• corpse
• rest
• remainder
• residual
• afterimage
• residue
• leftover
• aftertaste
• remain(s)
• hangover
• scrap
• leavings
• balance
• oddment
• dreg(s)

2

as in footstep

the mark or impression made by a foot

the fossilized vestige of a dinosaur that traversed that muddy landscape millions of years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

• footstep
• footprint
• trace
• step
• footmark
• track
• hoofprint
• tread
• pug
• spoor

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vestige distinct from other similar nouns?

The words trace and track are common synonyms of vestige. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," 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

When could trace be used to replace vestige?

In some situations, the words trace and vestige are roughly equivalent. However, trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

Where would track be a reasonable alternative to vestige?

While the synonyms track and vestige are close in meaning, track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of vestige

In what feels like a vestige from a more collaborative era, the Cuban contemporary-dance troupe Malpaso Dance Company is the product of a joint venture between an American institution—the Joyce Theatre Foundation—and an exceptional group of Cuban dancers and choreographers based in Havana. —Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026

Our modern concept of an Oscar villain is a vestige of a specific cultural moment in the late 2010s, when online cinephiles processed their Trump-era anxieties by turning one contender each year into a stand-in for the sitting president. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026

Here, at what may be one of the last vestiges of the true dude ranch, Saturday nights are for group cookouts, guests are encouraged to wear vests to dinner, and horses are central to the entire experience. —Asonta Benetti, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026

Getty Images Southwest Airlines officially ended its 50-year open seating policy on Tuesday, and with it, the last vestige of what made the airline psychologically distinctive in the minds of customers. —Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!