relic

noun

rel·​ic ˈre-lik How to pronounce relic (audio)
1
a
: an object esteemed and venerated because of association with a saint or martyr
2
relics plural : remains, corpse
3
: a survivor or remnant left after decay, disintegration, or disappearance
4
: a trace of some past or outmoded practice, custom, or belief

Examples of relic in a Sentence

a crude stone ax and other relics of the Neanderthals in my grandparents' attic are many “groovy” relics from the 1960s
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Perched on the edge of a cliff in Cundinamarca, Colombia, the Hotel Del Salto is a relic of the opulence and horrors of colonialism. Josh Rivera, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025 The current tariff gap is a relic of that old trade regime. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025 However, the Macross was by no means the only Protoculture relic left on Earth, and a mysterious Bird Human becomes the source of a new conflict at the end of the Unification Wars. Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Like the ghostly hulk of the Titanic below the surface of the sea, Northbrook Court is a quiet and cavernous relic — at the bottom of the retail food chain. David Petitti, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for relic

Word History

Etymology

Middle English relik, from Anglo-French relike, from Medieval Latin reliquia, from Late Latin reliquiae, plural, remains of a martyr, from Latin, remains, from relinquere to leave behind — more at relinquish

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of relic was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Relic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relic. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

relic

noun
rel·​ic ˈrel-ik How to pronounce relic (audio)
1
: an object treated with great respect because of its connection with a saint or martyr
2
: something left behind after decay or disappearance
relics of ancient cities

More from Merriam-Webster on relic

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