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)

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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Related Words

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.

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

About 45% expect the 10-year Treasury yield to be higher a year from now; the remainder see flat or slightly declining yields.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

The team provides housing during the season, and he spends the remainder of the year staying with family in his hometown of Oxford, Miss., or traveling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Half of the money for wolf conflicts would go toward deterrents; the remainder would compensate ranchers for their losses.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

"Currently in north Wales 84.8% of first class letters are delivered the next working day, with the remainder arriving in the days that follow," a spokesperson said.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

When one arm was pointing to the coast and the other was pointing in the direction the bird was taking, she cut off the remainder of the strip.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George

Related Words

• rest