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Definition of fossil

fossil

/ˈfɑː.səl/
fos · sil
Plural:fossils
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fossil Lexical Profile

fossil Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living organism from a past geological age.

Example

"The paleontologist carefully brushed the dirt away to reveal a perfectly preserved dinosaur fossil."

2

An extraordinarily old, outdated, or stubborn person who is resistant to modern ideas or changes.

Example

"The new interns jokingly referred to the senior executive as a fossil because he refused to communicate via email."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for fossil
Antonyms
View all antonyms for fossil

• Rhymes for fossil

• Nearby Words

forwardness
fossa
fossa falls
fossil
fossilization
fossilize
foster

Word Origin & Etymology

From French 'fossile' or directly from Latin 'fossilis' meaning 'dug up', derived from 'fossus', the past participle of 'fodere' (to dig).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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