What does "relict" mean?
Something that, or someone who, survives or remains or is left over after the loss of others; a relic.; The surviving member of a married couple after one or the other has died; a widow or widower.
Relict
/ˈɹɛlɪkt/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Something that, or someone who, survives or remains or is left over after the loss of others; a relic.; The surviving member of a married couple after one or the other has died; a widow or widower.
- Grammar: relict is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: dowager, heir, orphan, successor.
- Usage evidence: Upon which the Chancellor, by way of note said, 'it is suggested, that there is a relict of the deceased, married to another man, who has joined her in a power of attorney to authorize the sale of her interest, […]'
How to use "relict"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "relict" 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 "relict" 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 "relict" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "relict" 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 "relict" is acting as adj, noun 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 "dowager" 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 "relict", 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 Something that, or someone who, survives or remains or is left over after the loss of others; a relic.; The surviving member of a married couple after one or the other has died; a widow or widower. archaic, formal
"Upon which the Chancellor, by way of note said, 'it is suggested, that there is a relict of the deceased, married to another man, who has joined her in a power of attorney to authorize the sale of her interest, […]'"
- 2 geological feature that is a remnant of a pre-existing formation after other parts have disappeared wordnet
- 3 Something that, or someone who, survives or remains or is left over after the loss of others; a relic.; A species, organism, or ecosystem that has survived from a previous age: one that was once widespread but is now found only in a few areas. formal
"[…] a continental northern Alaskan element, including a series of endemic species and disjuncts that have survived the Pleistocene glaciation in northern Alaska and thus represent relicts of the much warmer Tertiary […]"
- 4 an organism or species surviving as a remnant of an otherwise extinct flora or fauna in an environment much changed from that in which it originated wordnet
- 5 Something that, or someone who, survives or remains or is left over after the loss of others; a relic.; A structure or other feature that has survived from a previous age. formal
"Dark rims around the pillows are caused by glaucophane enrichment, possibly a relict of a primary interaction between basalt and seawater, causing Na- enrichment in the original glass crust of the pillows."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Something that, or someone who, survives or remains or is left over after the loss of others; a relic.; A survival of an archaic word, language or other form. formal
"A small number of linguists believe that Cimbrian is not an Austro-Bavarian dialect but a relict of Lombardic."
Adjective
- 1 Surviving, remaining. not-comparable
- 2 That is a relict; pertaining to a relict. not-comparable
"In the lakes and in the streams were species of fish not known elsewhere on earth and birds and lizards and other forms of life as well all long relict here for the desert stretched away on every side."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Upon which the Chancellor, by way of note said, 'it is suggested, that there is a relict of the deceased, married to another man, who has joined her in a power of attorney to authorize the sale of her interest, […]'"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "relict"?
Common synonyms include: dowager, heir, orphan, successor.
How do you use "relict" in a sentence?
Upon which the Chancellor, by way of note said, 'it is suggested, that there is a relict of the deceased, married to another man, who has joined her in a power of attorney to authorize the sale of her interest, […]'
How do you pronounce "relict"?
Pronounced /ˈɹɛlɪkt/.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English relicte (“widow”), from Middle French relicte (“widow”), from Late Latin relicta (“widow”), from Latin relictus, past participle of relinquō (“I abandon, I relinquish, I leave (behind)”), from re- + linquō (“I leave, quit, forsake, depart from”). Doublet of relic, derelict, and relinquish.