remnant

American  

[rem-nuhnt] / ˈrɛm nənt /

noun

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

• remnantal adjective

Etymology

Origin of remnant

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

Example Sentences

Amid their grief over unimaginable loss, at town halls, in churches, at community gatherings and outside the remnants of their homes, resilience was present too.

From Los Angeles Times

By about 20:00 the large flames appeared to have been extinguished, while firefighters on ladders continued to tackle the remnants of the blaze.

From BBC

One key conclusion of the research is that mining undifferentiated asteroids -- the primordial remnants of the solar system's formation considered the progenitor bodies of chondritic meteorites -- remains impractical for now.

From Science Daily

The arrangement resembles an "acquihire" – a practice increasingly common in Silicon Valley where larger tech companies poach key staff from smaller firms, leaving a small remnant of the company behind.

From Barron's

The remnants of the government shutdown continue to affect data, Reid notes, making the November report somewhat noisy.

From Barron's

Related Words

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