vestigial

American  

[ve-stij-ee-uhl, -stij-uhl] / vɛˈstɪdʒ i əl, -ˈstɪdʒ əl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of a vestige.

   a vestigial tail.

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vestigial British  

/ vɛˈstɪdʒɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or being a vestige

2. (of certain organs or parts of organisms) having attained a simple structure and reduced size and function during the evolution of the species

   the vestigial pelvic girdle of a snake

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vestigial Scientific  

/ vĕ-stĭj′ē-əl /

1. Relating to a body part that has become small and lost its use because of evolutionary change. Whales, for example, have small bones located in the muscles of their body walls that are vestigial bones of hips and hind limbs.

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Usage

What does vestigial mean? Vestigial is used to describe something, especially a part of an organism, that used to have a function but has now shrunk and is mostly not used anymore. Vestigial is an adjective form of the noun vestige, meaning something left over from a previous version. Vestigial is used in science to describe structures like animal organs, tissues, or bones that may have been used by an ancestor but aren’t anymore. For example, snakes have vestigial structures where limbs would have been when they walked on four legs. Even though they serve no function, vestigial structures do not disappear completely because they don’t reduce the likelihood that the animal will reproduce. Even humans have vestigial organs and vestigial structures. The coccyx—that tiny bone at the bottom of your spinal cord—is believed to be a vestigial structure left over from an ancient ancestor that had a prehensile tail. Vestigial can also be applied to the specific parts, as in Whales have vestigial pelvic bones from a time when they walked on land. Example: The human appendix was once thought to be vestigial but scientists think it may still have a function.

Other Word Forms

• vestigially
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of vestigial

1880–85; < Latin vestīgi ( um ) vestige + -al ¹

Explanation

Vestigial describes an organ or body part that continues to exist without retaining its original function, such as our appendix. The adjective vestigial derives from the Latin word vestigium, meaning "footprint, trace." It's most often used in biology to describe something that either didn't finish developing or has become, through evolution, pretty much useless. An ostrich's wings are vestigial because it's unable to fly — or do much of anything — with them. A penguin's wings, on the other hand, are not vestigial because it has found another use for them — to help it swim.

Example Sentences

If lawmakers have a vestigial sense of shame, they can apologize to the victims whose information was posted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Companies have skimped on dividends amid an epic bull run for stock prices, leaving the S&P 500’s yield of just 1.1% looking like finance’s vestigial tailbone—an evolutionary holdover without a clear purpose.

From Barron's • Nov. 21, 2025

The newspaper endorsement is in many ways vestigial from an era when these outlets wielded vastly more cultural influence than they currently do.

From Slate • Oct. 26, 2024

By the time her final husband of convenience realizes his role is vestigial, he can’t muster enough ire to make her flinch.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2024

We do see vestigial signs of automobiles in our village, but they resemble the signs of life you would dig up in a graveyard if you were inclined to that pastime.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• inherent
• lurking
• smoldering
• suppressed
• underlying
• unrealized
• veiled