remains

The word “remains” means the parts of something that are left after most of it has gone or been destroyed. In plain terms, what's left of something — often used for ruins, or, more solemnly, for a person's body after death.

“Remains” is pronounced rih-MAYNZ (/ɹɪˈmeɪnz/ in IPA).

Here is “remains” used in a sentence: “Archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Roman villa beneath the field.”

“Remains” is a noun.

“Remains” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Remains” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the parts of something that are left after most of it has gone or been destroyed.

Remains usually refers to physical parts left after something is destroyed, decayed, or used up, and often carries a sombre or archaeological tone. Remainder is more neutral and mathematical, meaning simply the amount left over. You would speak of ancient remains but the remainder of a payment.

The word covers several senses: human remains, meaning a body or its bones; food remains or leftovers; archaeological remains such as ruins and artefacts; and general remnants of anything broken down or consumed. The common thread is that only a portion survives after the whole is gone.

No. While human remains commonly means a corpse or skeleton, the word applies to whatever is left of anything, such as the remains of a meal, a fire, or an old building. Only context tells you whether the sense is solemn or entirely ordinary.