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Definition of vestigially

vestigially

/vɛˈstɪdʒ.i.ə.li/
ves · tig · i · al · ly
Adjective:vestigial
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vestigially Lexical Profile

vestigially Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

To a very slight degree, surviving only as a faint trace or remnant of something that once existed more fully.

Example

"The ancient custom survives only vestigially in a few remote mountain villages."

2

In a manner that remains only as a small, degenerate, or imperfectly developed trace of an organ or structure that was fully functional in an earlier stage or evolutionary ancestor.

Example

"In some species of flightless birds, the wings remain vestigially present beneath the feathers."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

vestia
vestibule
vestige
vestigially
vesting
vestless
vestment

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the adjective 'vestigial', which comes from the Latin 'vestigium', meaning 'footprint, trace, or mark'.

Cite this Entry

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