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

Meghan Markle is still holding onto a remnant of her Suits era. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 3 Mar. 2025

This leaves a stellar remnant with between one and two times the mass of the sun condensed into a width of around 12 miles (20 kilometers). —Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025

Adjective

The remnant rocket is about the size of a city bus, while ADRAS-J is a little larger than a kitchen oven. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2025

Wrangler also bowed a collection made with remnant selvedge fabric from White Oak. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 14 Jan. 2025

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