fossil
/ˈfɒsl̩/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: fossils
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The mineralized remains of an animal or plant.
Noun
Examples
With the permission of the Keeper of the fossil collection, therefore, the specimen was subjected to a further careful removal of the matrix in the requisite directions.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Any preserved evidence of ancient life, including shells, imprints, burrows, coprolites, and organically-produced chemicals.
Noun
Examples
He draws eclectically on studies of baboons, descriptive anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies and, in a few cases, the fossil record.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “fossil” mean?
The mineralized remains of an animal or plant.
Is “fossil” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.