English · Word Candidate

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.

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