residual

American  

[ri-zij-oo-uhl] / rɪˈzɪdʒ u əl /

adjective

1. pertaining to or constituting a residue or remainder; remaining; leftover.

   Synonyms:

   enduring, lasting, abiding

2. Mathematics.

   1. formed by the subtraction of one quantity from another.

      a residual quantity.

   2. (of a set) having complement of first category.

3. of or relating to the payment of residuals.

4. Medicine/Medical. remaining in an organ or part following normal discharge or expulsion.

   residual air.

5. Geology. remaining after the soluble elements have been dissolved.

   residual soil.

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noun

1. a residual quantity; remainder.

2. Often residuals. something that remains to discomfort or disable a person following an illness, injury, operation, or the like; disability.

   His residuals are a weak heart and light-headedness.

3. Mathematics.

   1. the deviation of one of a set of observations or numbers from the mean of the set.

   2. the deviation between an empirical and a theoretical result.

4. Navigation. a slight deviation of an adjusted compass on a certain heading.

5. Usually residuals. additional pay given to a performer for reruns, repeated use of a film, radio or TV commercial, or the like, in which the performer appears.

residual British  

/ rɪˈzɪdjʊəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating a residue or remainder; remaining; left over

2. (of deposits, soils, etc) formed by the weathering of pre-existing rocks and the removal of disintegrated material

3. of or relating to the payment of residuals

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noun

1. something left over as a residue; remainder

2. statistics

   1. the difference between the mean of a set of observations and one particular observation

   2. the difference between the numerical value of one particular observation and the theoretical result

3. (often plural) payment made to an actor, actress, musician, etc, for subsequent use of film in which the person appears

Other Word Forms

• nonresidual adjective
• residually adverb
• unresidual adjective

Etymology

Origin of residual

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin residu(um) “what is left over, remainder” (noun use of neuter of adjective residuus “left over,” derivative of resid(ēre) “to remain seated, be left over”) + -uus adjective suffix + -al adjective suffix; reside, -al ¹

Explanation

Residual describes what remains after most of something is gone. It’s an almost formal word for what’s leftover. If you’ve gotten over your breakup but you still have the urge to kick your ex, then you have some residual bitterness. Residual comes from the Old French root word residu, which means "a remainder." That's why residual can be something that is left behind, like the residual grime on your kitchen counter from wiping it with a dirty sponge or residual feelings of guilt that remain after you dumped your girlfriend because you were rude. A residual is also a payment to a performer, writer, or director of a television show every time the commercial airs; it’s a kind of royalty.

Example Sentences

Is it a lack of societal residual guilt from the Holocaust?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

He pinched the hose, directing any residual water to the ash pit.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

I need to think about residual value and where the data center is located.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

But shares of other airlines also fell, amid worries about the residual negative effect to overall travel demand.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026

For a while, they’re obscured by the residual blood droplets that I can’t seem to wipe from my vision.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• continuing
• enduring
• lingering