Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

vestigial

/vɛˈstɪd͡ʒɪəl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.47 in modern English

Syllables: ves-ti-gial
IPA: /vɛˈstɪd͡ʒɪəl/

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Of or pertaining to a vestige or remnant; like a trace from the past.

adj

Not fully developed in mature animals.

adj

Of a vestigial structure; that has lost all or most of its original function in the course of evolution.

noun

A small, degenerate, or imperfectly developed part or organ which has been more fully developed in some past generation.

Example Sentences

"Remnants of the vascular supply of lost organs may be present in the tissues of the receptacle when all external evidence of the organs has disappeared. Only rarely does the vascular supply of a vestigial organ disappear while external remnants are still present."

Etymology

From Latin vestīgium + -al. By surface analysis, vestige + -ial.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: la:vestīgium

Inflected Forms

vestigials (plural)

Derived Forms

nonvestigial vestigiality vestigially

Phrases

vestigial structure

Frequently Paired Words

vestige

Synonyms

rudimentary

Questions

How do you pronounce vestigial?: The recorded pronunciation is /vɛˈstɪd͡ʒɪəl/.
What does vestigial mean?: Of or pertaining to a vestige or remnant; like a trace from the past.
Where does vestigial come from?: From Latin vestīgium + -al. By surface analysis, vestige + -ial.

How to pronounce vestigial

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “vestigial”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/vɛˈstɪd͡ʒɪəl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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