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vestigial

[ve-stij-ee-uhl, -stij-uhl] / vɛˈstɪdʒ i əl, -ˈstɪdʒ əl /




ADJECTIVE
surviving
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Most states still hold conventions in one form or another, but the events have become increasingly vestigial.

From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026

We must remove this vestigial oversight and ensure the outcome cannot be gained by unscrupulous parties.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

Companies have skimped on dividends amid an epic bull run for stock prices, leaving the S&P 500’s yield of just 1.1% looking like finance’s vestigial tailbone—an evolutionary holdover without a clear purpose.

From Barron's ● Nov. 21, 2025

Look closely and you’ll see vestigial seeds dotting the surface like radiant drops of citrine, lending the tomato an air of something treasured, preserved.

From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2025

“My doctor said, ‘Ewa, be careful with cholesterol,’ ” recalled Gora, whose vestigial Old World sense of propriety had her dressed in heels and makeup for every visit to Bellevue.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times


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