leftover

1 of 2

noun

left·​over ˈleft-ˌō-vər 

1

: something that remains unused or unconsumed

especially : leftover food served at a later meal

—usually plural

2

: an anachronistic survival : vestige

leftover

2 of 2

adjective

: not consumed or used

leftover food

leftover space

Synonyms of leftover

Noun

• remainder
• scrap
• remnant

Examples of leftover in a Sentence

Noun

Are we having leftovers again?

The law is a leftover from earlier times.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The technical is to make a vegan chocolate sponge cake and ganache with frosting that seems like it is made out of the leftover slime from a kindergartner’s slumber party. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026

Leather offcuts are reused to create small accessories and product tags, while scarf production has been developed around a fabric width that allows two scarves to be made without leftover material. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026

Adjective

This is leftover business from the ACA — a long-term care insurance plan that passed as part of the original bill was dropped before ever taking effect — and the issue is becoming more urgent as the baby boomer generation gets older. — Dylan Scott, Vox, 5 Nov. 2026

Others are leftover rocket parts or fragments from past collisions. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for leftover

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover
• pullover

Kids Definition

leftover

noun

left·​over

ˈlef-ˌtō-vər

: something remaining

especially : food left over from one meal and served at another

—usually used in plural

leftover adjective