remains

British  

/ rɪˈmeɪnz /

plural noun

1. any pieces, scraps, fragments, etc, that are left unused or still extant, as after use, consumption, the passage of time, etc

   the remains of a meal

   archaeological remains

2. the body of a dead person; corpse

3. Also called: literary remains.  the unpublished writings of an author at the time of his or her death

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Explanation

The word remains can mean a dead body, so a detective might investigate to find out if some bones found in a lake are human or non-human remains. You can also use remains to mean the part of something that's left behind after the rest has been used or thrown away. So the remains of your birthday cake might just be some crumbs and melted candles, and the remains of a building after an earthquake could consist of a crumbling foundation. In a murder mystery, though, remains are likely to be human bodies.

Example Sentences

“There are no reports of injuries at this time, and our priority remains the safety of our employees, responders, and the surrounding community,” the spokesperson said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

As demand waned in the following years, companies conducted mass layoffs, leading private-equity firms to swoop in to pick over the remains of distressed assets.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

Middleton gave Gohmert $300,000, and asked Krause to pass on the remains of his donation, $250,000, to the Gohmert camp.

From Salon • May 23, 2026

The coal industry remains a bedrock of the Chinese economy, powering factories and homes.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

“I was just leaving,” I say, shoving my phone and the remains of my lunch into my backpack.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• debris
• remnant