remainder

American  

[ri-meyn-der] / rɪˈmeɪn dər /

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.

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adjective

1. remaining; leftover.

verb (used with object)

remainders, present (3rd person singular) remaindered, past participle, past remaindering present participle

1. to dispose of or sell as a remainder.

remainder British  

/ 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

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verb

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

remainder Scientific  

/ rĭ-mān′dər /

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.

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Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has remaindered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have remaindered
  perfect
• are remaindering
  progressive
• is remaindering
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been remaindering
  perfect progressive
• remainders
  singular 3rd person
• am remaindering
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been remaindering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• remaindering
  participle

Past

• had remaindered
  perfect
• had been remaindering
  perfect progressive
• remaindered
  participle
• were remaindering
  progressive plural
• remaindered
  simple
• was remaindering
  progressive singular

Future

• will remainder
  simple
• will have remaindered
  perfect
• will have been remaindering
  perfect progressive
• will be remaindering
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of remainder

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

Explanation

The remainder is whatever is left after the rest has been used up or taken away. In math, if you know the remainder is the number that's left after you divide, that will help you remember the meaning of this word: a remainder is what you have when others things are gone. If you ate all but one piece of a pizza, the one slice left is the remainder. If you spend all your cash except for $4, that's your remainder. Since remaining means to stay somewhere, a remainder is something that stays put.

Example Sentences

After the buy-in, residents pay a monthly fee and are assured of care for the remainder of their lives.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

Sales and earnings growth are projected to accelerate through the remainder of the year, so investors will have a close eye on third-quarter guidance.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

Voters from the existing district are also voting in a special election Tuesday to fill the remainder of LaMalfa’s term.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

The insect permanently sheds its wings and spends the remainder of its life moving through fur and feeding on blood.

From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026

The tears that kept Buttercup company the remainder of the day were not at all like those that had blinded her into the tree trunk.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

Related Words

• rest