vestige

noun

ˈve-stij How to pronounce vestige (audio)
Definition of vestigenext
1
as in relic
a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished a few strange words carved on a tree were the only vestige of the lost colony of Roanoke

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in footstep
the mark or impression made by a foot the fossilized vestige of a dinosaur that traversed that muddy landscape millions of years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vestige distinct from other similar nouns?

The words trace and track are common synonyms of vestige. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," vestige applies to a tangible reminder such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone.

boulders that are vestiges of the last ice age

When could trace be used to replace vestige?

In some situations, the words trace and vestige are roughly equivalent. However, trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

Where would track be a reasonable alternative to vestige?

While the synonyms track and vestige are close in meaning, track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vestige The Dynasty contains some vestiges of its label showcase origins, including two clunky Memphis Bleek tracks with no Jay-Z verses. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 14 July 2026 The architecture of the public spaces remains largely intact, with vestiges of its past visible in spaces like Stagg Court, once a basketball court and gym. — Rima Suqi, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026 Little parts of your vestiges — politically — are gonna be scattered all over the state of Michigan, never to be seen again. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 For anyone wanting to see or experience the sites and vestiges of Miami’s ancient inhabitants, the people known as Tequesta and their even more enigmatic Archaic forebears, there are only a few places to go. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for vestige
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vestige
  1. relic
  2. footstep
  3. trace
  4. footprint
  5. remnant
Noun
  • The Paper Receipts Converting Association, a trade group of US manufacturers, pushes back against anti-receipt legislation and advocates for paper receipts as a consumer right, not a relic.
    — HubSpot, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In April, a former server at Long Island Bar bought the neighborhood relic Sam’s Restaurant from Lou Migliaccio, whose relatives opened it in 1930.
    — Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of relic
Noun
  • Taiwan is also pursuing a program to encourage companies to improve their shareholder value, following in the footsteps of Japan and South Korea.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Homer has followed in his father’s footsteps into acting, joining the ensemble of Ryan Murphy’s The Shards in 2026.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of footstep
Noun
  • Potsherds discarded after an 11th-century feast at Etowah—an Indigenous city just north of what’s now Atlanta—contained traces of cacao, a raw ingredient of chocolate.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In Ossoff, the first millennial senator, Rogers sees traces of an earlier era.
    — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of trace
Noun
  • Its global footprint spans roughly 150 countries and includes about 47,000 employees.
    — Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Miniso entered the Swiss market in the second quarter of this year, extending its global footprint to 113 countries and regions.
    — Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of footprint
Noun
  • Dolly's remnants also bringing rain Elsewhere, the hurricane center is keeping an eye on whether the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly could develop again.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Dolly’s remnants are now just a surface trough of low pressure producing a disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms stretching from over portions of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of remnant

Browse Nearby Words

vestibules
vestige
vestiges
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Cite this Entry

“Vestige.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vestige. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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