vestige

noun

ves·​tige ˈve-stij How to pronounce vestige (audio)
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
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

Did you know?

Vestige, Trace, and Track

Vestige traces to Latin vestigium, meaning "footstep, footprint, or track." Like its parent, it is used to refer to a perceptible sign made by something that has passed or to a tangible reminder, such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone.

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Instead of shading Black male voters in ways that feel patronizing, President Obama could have cultivated more intimate opportunities for calling people in and getting honest about the vestiges of patriarchy. Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 18 Oct. 2024 Footwear was one of the last vestiges of my old relationship to clothes. Melissa Febos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024 The longtime measurement leader, founded in 1923, gets knocked for being a vestige of the legacy media past. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2024 And a New York Times/Siena College poll of three other Senate races drawing the eyes of Democrats released on Thursday suggests Nebraska might be the last vestige of hope for the party to hold any sway over the Senate. Philip Elliott, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vestige 

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of vestige was in the 15th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near vestige

Cite this Entry

“Vestige.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vestige. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vestige

noun
ves·​tige ˈves-tij How to pronounce vestige (audio)
1
a
: a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something (as an ancient city or a condition or practice) vanished or lost
vestiges of lost civilizations
b
: the smallest quantity or trace
not a vestige of regret
2
: a small and imperfectly developed bodily part or organ that is the remains of one that was more fully developed in an earlier stage of the individual, in a past generation, or in a closely related form
vestigial adjective
Etymology

from French vestige "sign of something vanished or lost," from Latin vestigium "footprint" — related to investigate

Medical Definition

vestige

noun
ves·​tige ˈves-tij How to pronounce vestige (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on vestige

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!