remainder

[ri-meyn-der]

noun

1. something that remains or is left.

   the remainder of the day.

   Synonyms: overage, rest, excess, remnant, residuum

2. a remaining part.

3. Arithmetic.

   1. the quantity that remains after subtraction.

   2. the portion of the dividend that is not evenly divisible by the divisor.

4. Mathematics.,  the difference between a function or a number and an approximation to it.

5. Law.,  a future interest so created as to take effect at the end of another estate, as when property is conveyed to one person for life and then to another.

6. Philately.,  remainders, the quantities of stamps on hand after they have been demonetized or otherwise voided for postal use.

7. a copy of a book remaining in the publisher's stock when its sale has practically ceased, frequently sold at a reduced price.

adjective

1. remaining; leftover.

verb (used with object)

1. to dispose of or sell as a remainder.

remainder

/ rɪˈmeɪndə /

noun

1. a part or portion that is left, as after use, subtraction, expenditure, the passage of time, etc

   the remainder of the milk

   the remainder of the day

2. maths

   1. the amount left over when one quantity cannot be exactly divided by another

      for 10 ÷ 3, the remainder is 1

   2. another name for difference

3. property law a future interest in property; an interest in a particular estate that will pass to one at some future date, as on the death of the current possessor

4. a number of copies of a book left unsold when demand slows or ceases, which are sold at a reduced price by the publisher

verb

1. (tr) to sell (copies of a book) as a remainder

remainder

1. In division, the difference between the dividend and the product of the quotient and divisor. Dividing 14 by 3 gives 4 and a remainder of 2.

Word History and Origins

Origin of remainder¹

1350–1400; Middle English from Anglo-French, noun use of Middle French remaindre “to remain ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of remainder¹

C15: from Anglo-French, from Old French remaindre (infinitive used as noun), variant of remanoir ; see _remain

Synonym Study

Remainder, balance, residue, surplus refer to a portion left over. Remainder is the general word ( the remainder of one's life ); it may refer in particular to the mathematical process of subtraction: 7 minus 5 leaves a remainder of 2. Balance, originally a bookkeeper's term referring to the amount of money left to one's account ( a bank balance ), is often used as a synonym for remainder : the balance of the day. Residue is used particularly to designate what remains as the result of a process; this is usually a chemical process, but the word may also refer to a legal process concerning inheritance: a residue of ash left from burning leaves. Surplus suggests that what remains is in excess of what was needed: a surplus of goods.

Example Sentences

The remainder often runs into rivers and coastal areas, contributing to oxygen-depleted "dead zones" that harm aquatic ecosystems.

Read more on Science Daily

The remainder were Frenchmen, Swedes, Spaniards and people of unknown ethnicity.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Someone who withholds too little will have to pay the remainder of their tax bill — possibly also penalties and interest if they withheld far too little.

Read more on MarketWatch

The group's chairwoman, Labour MP Carolyn Harris, called for a complete freeze on excise duty in Wednesday's Budget and for the remainder of this Parliament.

Read more on BBC

England stuck to their blueprint and were chasing their tails for the remainder of a 4-0 series defeat.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• rest