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. remainders, Philately. 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 day

   the remainder of the milk

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

/ 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.

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

Anything less than nationwide vote by mail is electoral sabotageThe remainder have some sort of issue.

From TechCrunch

The remainder of those shares become eligible for sale over the coming months.

From TechCrunch

Without a warrant, officers arrested Mambetov removing her from her home for good and leaving her flat and the remainder of her belongings.

From Essence.com

Now, for the remainder of the year, and likely into the start of 2021, the schedule is more packed than usual.

From Digiday

It is in this mistaken assumption that the remainder of the report falls apart.

From Voice of San Diego

The second-place major party candidate would get the remainder.

From The Daily Beast

For the remainder of Season 3, Rick battles his dark side in the form of the Governor.

From The Daily Beast

For the remainder of the motorcade, there is no radio traffic.

From The Daily Beast

The remainder is “peculiar” motion: movement of galaxies as dictated by the presence of matter nearby.

From The Daily Beast

You could devote the remainder of your life to the study of Arabic and you'd never truly be able to communicate with these people.

From The Daily Beast

The result was that some 40 rebels were killed, others taken prisoners, and the remainder escaped into the planted fields.

From Project Gutenberg

Judge for yourself the difficulty surrounding the remainder of the symbols and fundamental truths of christianity.

From Project Gutenberg

At the Flagstaff Tower the 74th and the remainder of the 38th suddenly told their officers that they would obey them no longer.

From Project Gutenberg

The remainder of the residue may be dissolved in a little dilute sulphuric acid.

From Project Gutenberg

Another fence: who would furnish that two hundred and fifty dollars and secure him for the remainder?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• rest