remnant

1 of 2

noun

rem·​nant ˈrem-nənt 

1

a

: a usually small part, member, or trace remaining

b

: a small surviving group

—often used in plural

2

: an unsold or unused end of piece goods

remnant

2 of 2

adjective

: still remaining

Synonyms

Noun

• balance
• leavings
• leftovers
• odds and ends
• remainder
• remains
• residue
• residuum
• rest

Examples of remnant in a Sentence

Noun

Remnants go on sale next week.

sailed home with just a remnant of the colony's original population aboard

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The remnants of its blue shipping crate, sealed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York weeks earlier, were scattered on a nearby ledge, nails poking through plywood. —Mike Ives, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

Although the polarization blocks a significant honeymoon period, this is likely the remnants of that. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025

Adjective

One of the more practical steps to undertake soon is a thorough cleanup of plant debris, weeds and remnant materials from last season. —Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025

Then a tiny remnant population was found surviving in Bixby Cove near Big Sur in 1914, site of the now Instagram famous Bixby bridge. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, contraction of remenant, from Anglo-French remanant, from present participle of remaindre to remain — more at remain entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1550, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

remnant

noun

rem·​nant

ˈrem-nənt

1

: a surviving usually small part

remnants of a great civilization

2

: something that remains or is left over

a remnant of cloth