residual

1 of 2

noun

re·​sid·​u·​al ri-ˈzi-jə-wəl 

-jəl;

-ˈzij-wəl

1

: remainder, residuum: such as

a

: the difference between results obtained by observation and by computation from a formula or between the mean of several observations and any one of them

b

: a residual product or substance

c

: an internal aftereffect of experience or activity that influences later behavior

especially : a disability remaining from a disease or operation

2

: a payment (as to an actor or writer) for each rerun after an initial showing (as of a TV show)

residual

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or constituting a residue

2

: leaving a residue that remains effective for some time

a residual pesticide

residually adverb

Examples of residual in a Sentence

Adjective

She's still dealing with the residual effects of the accident.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But late last year, the lack of SAG residuals began to weigh on her. — Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

Customers may experience residuals with Gold and Red line services. — Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 26 June 2026

Adjective

Engineers still have to manage cracking, porosity, residual stress, cooling rates, powder quality, and final heat treatment. — New Atlas, 6 July 2026

With no energy available to warm the planet to these temperatures, the team reasoned that the temperature must be a residual effect of prior warming either from being engulfed by the red giant or during an inward migration. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin residuum residue

First Known Use

Noun

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing residual

• residual oil
• residual power

Rhymes for residual

• vidual
• decidual
• dividual

Kids Definition

residual

1 of 2 adjective

re·​sid·​u·​al ri-ˈzij-(ə-)wəl 

-ˈzij-əl

1

: of, relating to, or being a residue

2

: leaving a residue that is effective for some time afterward

residually

-ē

adverb

residual

2 of 2 noun

: a residual product, substance, or result

Medical Definition

residual

1 of 2 adjective

re·​sid·​u·​al ri-ˈzij-(ə-)wəl, -ˈzij-əl 

1

: of, relating to, or being something that remains: as

a

: remaining after a disease or operation

residual paralysis

b

: remaining in a body cavity after maximum normal expulsion has occurred

residual urine

see residual volume

2

a

: leaving a residue that remains effective for some time after application

residual insecticides

b

: of or relating to a residual insecticide

a residual spray

residual

2 of 2 noun

1

: an internal aftereffect of experience or activity that influences later behavior

2

: a residual abnormality (as a scar or limp)

Legal Definition

residual

adjective

re·​sid·​u·​al

ri-ˈzi-jə-wəl

: of, relating to, or constituting a residue : residuary