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Definition of extant

extant

/ɛkˈstænt/
ex · tant
Adverb:extantly
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extant Lexical Profile

extant Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Still in existence; surviving and not destroyed, lost, or extinct (especially of ancient documents, artworks, or biological taxa).

Example

"Only three extant manuscripts of the medieval chronicle are known to scholars today."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for extant
Antonyms
View all antonyms for extant

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'extant' (still in existence) with 'extinct' (no longer in existence), which is its direct opposite despite their similar appearance.

• Rhymes for extant

• Nearby Words

exquisite
exquisitely
exquisiteness
extant
extemporaneously
extend
extendability

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-16th century from Latin 'exstantem', the present participle of 'exstare' (to stand forth, appear, or exist), formed from 'ex-' (out) and 'stare' (to stand).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Extant. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/extant
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