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Vestigial: meaning, definitions and examples

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vestigial

 

[ vɛˈstɪdʒɪəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

biology

Relating to a structure in an organism that has lost all or most of its original function through evolution.

Synonyms

atavistic, relic, rudimentary

Examples of usage

  • The vestigial wings of flightless birds are remnants of their flying ancestors.
  • The human tailbone is a vestigial structure that serves no purpose in modern humans.

Translations

Translations of the word "vestigial" in other languages:

🇵🇹 vestigial

🇮🇳 अवशेषीय

🇩🇪 rudimentär

🇮🇩 vestigial

🇺🇦 реліктовий

🇵🇱 szczątkowy

🇯🇵 痕跡の

🇫🇷 vestigial

🇪🇸 vestigial

🇹🇷 kalıntı

🇰🇷 흔적의

🇸🇦 أثري

🇨🇿 pozůstatkový

🇸🇰 pozostatkový

🇨🇳 退化的

🇸🇮 ostanek

🇮🇸 leifar

🇰🇿 қалдық

🇬🇪 ნაშთური

🇦🇿 qalıq

🇲🇽 vestigial

Word origin

The word 'vestigial' originated in the mid-19th century from the Latin word 'vestigium', meaning 'footprint' or 'trace'. It was first used in the context of biology to describe structures in organisms that have become reduced or functionless over evolutionary time. The concept of vestigial structures played a significant role in the development of evolutionary theory, as it provided evidence for the idea of common ancestry among different species.

See also: vestige, vestiges.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,009, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.