What does "relic" mean?
That which remains; that which is left after loss or decay; a remaining portion.
Relic
/ˈɹɛlɪk/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: That which remains; that which is left after loss or decay; a remaining portion.
- Grammar: relic is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: account, age old, agnus dei, ancient artifact.
- Useful contrasts: modern object, modern person, new artifact.
- Usage evidence: The faithful believe that this relic is imbued with healing properties.
How to use "relic"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "relic" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "relic" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "relic" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "relic" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "relic" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "account" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "relic", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 That which remains; that which is left after loss or decay; a remaining portion.
"[…] let him not ask our pardon; The nature of his great offence is dead, And deeper than oblivion we do bury The incensing relics of it […]"
- 2 something of sentimental value wordnet
- 3 Something old and outdated, possibly kept for sentimental reasons.
"[…] the imperfect light entering by their narrow casements showed bedsteads of a hundred years old; chests in oak or walnut, looking, with their strange carvings of palm branches and cherubs’ heads, like types of the Hebrew ark; rows of venerable chairs, high-backed and narrow; stools still more antiquated, on whose cushioned tops were yet apparent traces of half-effaced embroideries, wrought by fingers that for two generations had been coffin-dust. All these relics gave to the third storey of Thornfield Hall the aspect of a home of the past: a shrine of memory."
- 4 an antiquity that has survived from the distant past wordnet
- 5 A part of the body of a saint, or an ancient religious object, kept for veneration.
"Why ſhould onely I, Of all the other Princes of the World, Be caſ’d-vp, like a holy Relique?"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A particle or entity that has existed since the Big Bang.
"One of the primary targets of current and especially future cosmological observations are light thermal relics of the hot big bang."
Verb
- 1 To cause (an object) to appear old or worn, to distress. often, transitive, uncommon
"Age has become a fetish in the world of guitars where large amounts of money are paid for a specially “reliced” guitar. As one company, Relic Guitars, which offers this service claims, “The idea behind relicing a guitar is to artificially replicate the natural wear that occurs over many years […]”"
Adjective
- 1 Pertaining to the Big Bang. not-comparable
"A more realistic model must include the presence of perturbations whose extra energy can produce distortions of the relic radiation spectrum."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
modern objectmodern personnew artifactnew generation
Example
"The faithful believe that this relic is imbued with healing properties."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "relic"?
Common synonyms include: account, age old, agnus dei, ancient artifact, ancient artifacts, ancient civilization artifacts.
How do you use "relic" in a sentence?
The faithful believe that this relic is imbued with healing properties.
How do you pronounce "relic"?
Pronounced /ˈɹɛlɪk/.
Etymology
From Middle English relik et al., from Old French relique, from Latin reliquiae (“remains, relics”), from relinquō (“I leave behind, abandon, relinquish”), from re- + linquō (“I leave, quit, forsake, depart from”). Doublet of relict, derelict, and relinquish.