- Today's Word
Extant
Extant
EK-stant (or EK-stənt)
Definition
(adjective) Still in existence; surviving from the past.
Example
Despite centuries of conflict, several extant manuscripts from the era are still preserved in the library’s archives.
Word Origin
From Latin exstare, meaning “to stand out” or “to exist.”
Fun Fact
Extant is often used when talking about ancient artifacts, fossils, rare documents, or species on the edge of disappearance. It doesn’t mean “abundant”—it simply means it still exists, often against the odds. Scholars treasure extant texts because they offer rare windows into civilizations long gone, while biologists track extant species to protect what remains of Earth’s biodiversity.
