remainder

1 of 3

noun

re·​main·​der ri-ˈmān-dər 

1

: an interest or estate in property that follows and is dependent on the termination of a prior intervening possessory estate created at the same time by the same instrument

2

a

: a remaining group, part, or trace

b(1)

: the number left after a subtraction

(2)

: the final undivided part after division that is less or of lower degree than the divisor

3

: a book sold at a reduced price by the publisher after sales have slowed

remainder

2 of 3

adjective

: leftover, remaining

remainder

3 of 3

verb

remaindered; remaindering ri-ˈmān-d(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

: to dispose of as remainders

Synonyms

Noun

• rest

Examples of remainder in a Sentence

Noun

2 subtracted from 5 gives a remainder of 3.

5 goes into 29 five times with a remainder of 4.

Verb

The book did not sell well and ended up being remaindered.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Reserve Luis Carrera to replace him for remainder of Rd. 1. —Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025

Teams will only be allowed to exceed the cap by an amount equal to the prior season’s average salary — unless the NHL and NHLPA approve the full amount, which will only happen when there is no doubt the player will miss the entire remainder of the season, including the playoffs. —Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 27 June 2025

Adjective

Other beneficiaries might be only remainder beneficiaries, receiving what remains in the trust after previous beneficiaries pass away or their rights expire. —Bob Carlson, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

Verb

Moore had to deal with the rejection of her only attempt at a novel and the news that her Selected Poems had been remaindered at thirty cents a copy. —Susan Gubar june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025

For a writer, growing old is a mixed blessing: You are revered for your early achievements, but your later books quickly end up remaindered. —Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 30 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from remaindre, verb

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1567, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1904, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing remainder

• remainder theorem
• the remainder

Rhymes for remainder

• attainder

Kids Definition

remainder

noun

re·​main·​der

ri-ˈmān-dər

1

: a remaining group or part

2

: the number left after a subtraction

3

: the final undivided part that is left over after division and is smaller than the divisor

dividing 7 by 3 gives you 2 with a remainder of 1

Legal Definition

remainder

noun

re·​main·​der

1

: an estate in property in favor of one other than the grantor that follows upon the natural termination of a prior intervening possessory estate (as a life estate) created at the same time and by the same instrument compare future interest at interest sense 1, reversion

— charitable remainder

: a remainder in favor of a charity

— contingent remainder

: a remainder that is to take effect in favor of an unidentifiable person (as one not yet born) or upon the occurrence of an uncertain event

called also executory remainder

— cross remainder

: either of two or more remainders in favor of two or more persons so that upon the termination of one remainder that share goes to the other or others

— executory remainder

: contingent remainder in this entry

— remainder vested subject to open

: a vested remainder that is subject to diminution by the shares of other remaindermen (as children born later)

— vested remainder

: a remainder in the favor of an ascertained person who has a present interest and is entitled to take possession upon the termination of the prior estate

2

: that which remains or is left

specifically : the property in a decedent's estate that is not otherwise devised or bequeathed

I leave the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to my son Michael

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, from Old French remaindre to remain