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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

relic

REH-lihk

Relic (noun) means an object that has survived from an earlier time, often valued for its age or history. Example: “The museum displays relics from the Bronze Age.”

noun
1
An object that has survived from an earlier time, often valued for its age or history.
"The museum displays relics from the Bronze Age."
"That old typewriter is a relic of my grandfather's newspaper days."
2
A part of the body of a saint, or another sacred object kept and honoured for religious reasons.
"Pilgrims travelled for weeks to see the relic housed in the cathedral."

How to use relic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething old that has survived from the past, whether a museum piece or a religious object.

Common pairings
ancient relic relic of the past sacred relic

Word forms

reliced past tense, relicked past tense, relics plural, relics singular

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Test yourself on “relic” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The museum displays _____ from the Bronze Age.

Etymology

From Old French relique, from Latin reliquiae, "remains," from relinquere, "to leave behind" — the same root as relinquish.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for relic

See all rhymes for relic →

Frequently asked questions

What does “relic” mean?

The word “relic” means an object that has survived from an earlier time, often valued for its age or history. In plain terms, something old that has survived from the past, whether a museum piece or a religious object.

How do you pronounce “relic”?

“Relic” is pronounced REH-lihk (/ˈɹɛlɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “relic” in a sentence?

Here is “relic” used in a sentence: “The museum displays relics from the Bronze Age.”

What part of speech is “relic”?

“Relic” is a noun.

Where does the word “relic” come from?

The word “relic” comes from Latin. From Old French relique, from Latin reliquiae, "remains," from relinquere, "to leave behind" — the same root as relinquish.

Is “relic” a common word?

“Relic” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “relic” have?

“Relic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an object that has survived from an earlier time, often valued for its age or history.

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