Relict Leopard Frog

In the 16th century, relict meant "an object esteemed and venerated because of association with a saint or martyr," but that meaning is now covered by "relic," a related word that can also refer to something. There are 15 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun relict, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. relict an animal or plant surviving in one area after becoming extinct else-where; a survival of an earlier period. — relict, adj. See also: Animals RELICT definition: a species or community living in an environment that has changed from that which is typical for it. See examples of relict used in a sentence. Jan 20, 2026 · Noun relict (plural relicts) (formal) Something that, or someone who, survives or remains or is left over after the loss of others; a relic. (archaic) The surviving member of a married couple.

"Relict." Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/relict. Accessed 03 Feb. 2026. loading examples. Relict definition: Of or relating to something that has survived, as structures or minerals after destructive processes. A relict is a surviving remnant or leftover of a past era, specifically a natural phenomenon or species that was formerly widespread but is now isolated or rare.