What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
holdover
Example
The old building was a holdover from the colonial era. [holdover: noun]
Example
The company's outdated policies were a holdover from the previous management. [holdover: adjective]
remnant
Example
The remnant of the cake was too small to share. [remnant: noun]
Example
The remnant fabric was just enough to make a small pillow. [remnant: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Remnant is more commonly used than holdover in everyday language. Remnant is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while holdover is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between holdover and remnant?
Both holdover and remnant are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
