remnant

American  

[rem-nuhnt] / ˈrɛm nənt /

noun

remnants plural

1. a remaining, usually small part, quantity, number, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   remains, rest, residuum, residue, remainder

2. a fragment or scrap.

3. a small, unsold or unused piece of cloth, lace, etc., as at the end of a bolt.

4. a trace; vestige.

   remnants of former greatness.

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adjective

1. remaining; leftover.

remnant British  

/ ˈrɛmnənt /

noun

1. (often plural) a part left over after use, processing, etc

2. a surviving trace or vestige, as of a former era

   a remnant of imperialism

3. a piece of material from the end of a roll, sold at a lower price

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adjective

1. remaining; left over

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• remnantal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• remnants
  plural

Etymology

Origin of remnant

1300–50; Middle English remna ( u ) nt, contraction of remenant < Old French, present participle of remenoir to remain

Explanation

A remnant is something that's left over, once the rest is used up. If you plan to sew a shirt using only a remnant, it might have to be a midriff shirt. The noun remnant can also be used to refer to leftover things other than cloth. The origin of the word might help you remember this, more all-purpose, meaning — it comes from the French remanant, which means "to remain." Think of it this way: a remnant is something that remains, or is left behind. For example, the remnants from the ancient battle gave archaeologists clues from which to infer what had happened.

Example Sentences

“This is a remnant of home that he’s actually being sent while on the battlefield,” she continued.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

The stand-off leaves the new government facing a constitutional clash with a remnant of the previous regime.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

In this scenario, the collapse of the star forms a neutron star, an incredibly dense remnant that injects energy into the surrounding debris and boosts the supernova's brightness.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

Yet with the final remnant of muscular control in his right thumb, he spelled out letters at an adapted typewriter beside Edith.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

The map showed just three tarns in those mountains, remnant glacial ponds, all off the trail, but otherwise no indication of water at all.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• bit
• fragment
• particle
• piece
• remains
• residue
• shred
• vestige