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View synonyms for vestigial

vestigial

[ ve-stij-ee-uhl, -stij-uhl ]

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or of the nature of a vestige:

    a vestigial tail.



vestigial

/ vĕ-stĭjē-əl /

  1. Relating to a body part that has become small and lost its use because of evolutionary change. Whales, for example, have small bones located in the muscles of their body walls that are vestigial bones of hips and hind limbs.


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Other Words From

  • ves·tigi·al·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of vestigial1

1880–85; < Latin vestīgi ( um ) vestige + -al 1
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Example Sentences

The newspaper endorsement is in many ways vestigial from an era when these outlets wielded vastly more cultural influence than they currently do.

From Slate

The mounds often had extra hairs or moles, suggesting that these fatty spots are a form of vestigial breasts.

From Slate

The reason these bumps are vestigial, and I’m not shopping for a bra with six cups, has to do with changes among our prehistoric primate ancestors.

From Slate

By the time her final husband of convenience realizes his role is vestigial, he can’t muster enough ire to make her flinch.

From Salon

And still, in this moment, we’re going to have to thank him for respecting the vestigial norms that he did and not being an utter sociopath each and every day.

From Slate

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vestigevestigium