relic
Americannoun
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relics
plural
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a surviving memorial of something past.
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an object having interest by reason of its age or its association with the past.
a museum of historic relics.
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a surviving trace of something.
a custom that is a relic of paganism.
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relics,
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remaining parts or fragments.
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the remains of a deceased person.
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something kept in remembrance; souvenir; memento.
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Ecclesiastical. (especially in the Roman Catholic and Greek churches) the body, a part of the body, or some personal memorial of a saint, martyr, or other sacred person, preserved as worthy of veneration.
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a once widespread linguistic form that survives in a limited area but is otherwise obsolete.
noun
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something that has survived from the past, such as an object or custom
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something kept as a remembrance or treasured for its past associations; keepsake
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(usually plural) a remaining part or fragment
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RC Church Eastern Churches part of the body of a saint or something supposedly used by or associated with a saint, venerated as holy
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informal an old or old-fashioned person or thing
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archaic (plural) the remains of a dead person; corpse
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ecology a less common term for relict
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of relic
1175–1225; Middle English < Old French relique < Latin reliquiae (plural) remains (> Old English reliquias ), equivalent to reliqu ( us ) remaining + -iae plural noun suffix
Explanation
A relic is a fragment from the past — one of Elvis's guitars, an ancient piece of pottery or even an outmoded way of thinking -– that remains behind. Your dad might love his old albums, but to you, they're just relics. The noun relic is derived from relinquere, Latin for "to leave behind." A crumbling Roman wall is a relic of a once-great civilization. The superstition that seven years of bad luck will follow if you break a mirror may be a relic of the old superstition that a mirror can trap the souls of those reflected in it. Whether it's an object or an idea, a relic is a remnant of the past. Religious relics are items, such as Buddha’s tooth or St. Anne’s wrist bone, that have been preserved and venerated.
Vocabulary lists containing relic
Musty Dusty Words for National Old Stuff Day
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Ancient Wisdom: Synonyms for "Old"
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They Both Die at the End
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Yet for some, Ali G is a relic of the past whose cultural appropriation is no longer funny.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
By 2013, then-Macy’s Plaza had devolved into a dated, downscale relic that got little love despite its location near offices, hotels and a busy subway interchanget.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Yet, over the course of its exemplary 402-year life, this noble relic has suffered a 99% decline in its real value.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
He was a sad figure adrift, a relic virtually alone until he was hunted down by the CIA and French intelligence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
It feels furtive, secret, a relic I use to remember and to punish myself.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Elsewhere around the county, traces of centuries-old gardens were found in Bishop's Palace in Wells, while relics of old structures were uncovered at Glastonbury Abbey due to the record-breaking summer temperatures.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
There are large fragments of salt-eaten machinery littering the shore, relics of the island’s martial heyday.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
The people who work at Arion certainly don’t see themselves, or their work, as relics.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
“We’re aware of the sand erosion and the different relics getting exposed down there,” said Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Adam Yacenda.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
They were relics of the Targaryens, black steel with dragon scales cresting their helms, now dusty and forgotten.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
