Vestigial structures are often called vestigial organs, although many of them are not actually organs. Such vestigial structures typically are degenerate, atrophied, or rudimentary, [3] and …

The meaning of VESTIGIAL is remaining in a form that is small or imperfectly developed and not able to function : being or having the form of a vestige. How to use vestigial in a sentence.

Of little or less importance (Definition of vestigial from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

(Biology) (of certain organs or parts of organisms) having attained a simple structure and reduced size and function during the evolution of the species: the vestigial pelvic girdle of a snake.

Definition of vestigial adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Feb 4, 2025 · Vestigial structures, sometimes called vestigia, rudimentary structures, or remnants, are non-functional features fully developed and functioning in earlier species but serve little or …

Dec 24, 2025 · vestigial (plural vestigials) (evolutionary theory) A small, degenerate, or imperfectly developed part or organ which has been more fully developed in some past generation.

Vestigial is an adjective form of the noun vestige, meaning something left over from a previous version. Vestigial is used in science to describe structures like animal organs, tissues, or …

VESTIGIAL meaning: 1 : remaining in a form that is not fully developed or able to function; 2 : remaining as the last small part of something that existed before

Vestigial is used to describe the small amounts of something that still remain of a larger or more important thing.