Remnant
noun /ˈrɛm.nənt/ — A small surviving trace of something that once was larger.
Definition
A small remaining quantity of something; a surviving trace or last survivor of something. A remnant carries the weight of what it came from — the fragment that proves the larger thing existed.
Beyond the definition
Remnants are history's ghosts. They survive when everything else has gone — the last speaker of a language, the final copy of a manuscript, the one wall still standing. In their smallness, they carry everything.
Origin & history
Old French: 'remanant' (remaining). From 'remanoir' (to remain). Related to 'remain', 'remainder', and 'remnant'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The stone arch was a remnant of what had been a medieval market town.
She kept a remnant of the fabric from the dress she'd worn the day she heard the news.
There were remnants of the old friendship in how they talked — careful, tender, aware of what had been lost.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Remnant” when the meaning fits your context: A small remaining quantity of something; a surviving trace or last survivor of something. A remnant carries the weight of what it came from — the fragment that proves the larger thing existed.
Synonyms
Antonyms
whole, complete, majority
Related words
Remnant vs residue
A remnant is a tangible, surviving piece of a once-larger whole. Residue refers to a small, often unwanted amount of something left over after the majority has been removed or consumed.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Old Chair Reclaimed by Forest
A beautiful, old wooden chair is slowly being reclaimed by the forest floor, with mushrooms growing on the seat.
The decaying chair is a remnant, a surviving trace of human presence that carries the weight of its previous life while slowly returning to the earth.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Remnant" mean?
Remnant is noun meaning: A small surviving trace of something that once was larger.. A small remaining quantity of something; a surviving trace or last survivor of something. A remnant carries the weight of what it came from — the fragment that proves the larger thing existed.
Where does the word "Remnant" come from?
Old French: 'remanant' (remaining). From 'remanoir' (to remain). Related to 'remain', 'remainder', and 'remnant'.