relic

noun

rel·​ic ˈre-lik How to pronounce relic (audio)
Synonyms of relic
1
a
: an object esteemed and venerated because of association with a saint or martyr
b
: souvenir, memento
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

Synonyms of relic

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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.
Architectural relics from the Nazi era can help people draw lessons from the past. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2026 New York — Down a dim, crooked hallway inside the Jay Street Lofts, a hulking brick relic of Brooklyn’s industrial past, Naomi Mishkin is conducting a radical fashion experiment. — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Few would bother to think about the two-state solution, viewing the idea as a relic from the overly optimistic 1990s. — Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026 Among the relics of its decline is a hulking complex of rusted pipes, towers and conveyor belts in Delano, just five miles north of the McFarland chipping yard. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 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

Phrases Containing relic

Rhymes for relic

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Browse Nearby Words

reliant
relic
relic area
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Cite this Entry

“Relic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relic. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about relic

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