Still existing; not destroyed, lost, or extinct. Used particularly for things that have survived from earlier times when many similar things have been lost.
From Latin 'extans,' present participle of 'exstare' meaning 'to stand out' or 'to exist,' combining 'ex-' (out) and 'stare' (to stand). The word emphasizes something that 'stands out' by virtue of still being here when others have vanished.
Don't confuse 'extant' with 'extinct' — they're opposites! Think 'extant' = 'existing still' or remember that extant things are 'standing' (from 'stare') while extinct things have fallen.
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