remainder

noun re·main·der \ ri-ˈmān-dər \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Definition of remainder

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

See remainder defined for English-language learners

See remainder defined for kids

Examples of remainder in a Sentence

2 subtracted from 5 gives a remainder of 3.
5 goes into 29 five times with a remainder of 4.

Recent Examples of remainder from the Web

Manager Buck Showalter was asked before Tuesday’s game against the Yankees whether the team would have any problem with Machado playing for a division rival for the remainder of this season.

— peter schmuck, baltimoresun.com, "Red Sox in recent contact with Orioles about possible Machado trade," 11 July 2018
Finally, Trump will meet the Queen at Windsor Castle, before traveling to his golf course in Scotland for the remainder of the weekend.

— natasha bach, Fortune, "President Trump Is Making His First Official Visit to the U.K. on Thursday: Here's What You Should Know," 11 July 2018
The Hornets Summer League roster took a hit Saturday when the team announced guard Malik Monk will be out for the remainder of the summer and will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks for a fractured right thumb.

— khadrice rollins, SI.com, "Malik Monk Out for Remainder of Summer League With Fractured Thumb," 7 July 2018
His status for the remainder of the summer league will be determined at a later date.

— keith pompey, Philly.com, "Sixers' Landry Shamet out with sprained right ankle," 7 July 2018
The White House said on Thursday that Oberman, a Democrat, is named for the remainder of a five-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2023.

— mary wisniewski, chicagotribune.com, "Former Metra Chairman Martin Oberman named to U.S. railroad board," 6 July 2018
Baseball was a consuming passion for him, then and for the remainder of his life.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "July 6, 2002: Ted Williams," 6 July 2018
The doctor then prescribes enough sleep-inducing pills to the narrator to put her, and much of Manhattan, under for the remainder of the millennium.

— New York Times, "A Woman Sleeps a Year Away in Ottessa Moshfegh’s Darkly Comic New Novel," 6 July 2018
The coaching staff hopes that becomes a trend for the remainder of July.

— robert avery, Houston Chronicle, "Mustang all-stars open Coast Region play against Vidor squad," 4 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'remainder.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of remainder

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

remainder Synonyms

remainder

adjective

Definition of remainder

: leftover, remaining

First Known Use of remainder

1567

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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remainder

verb

Definition of remainder

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

transitive verb

: to dispose of as remainders

See remainder defined for English-language learners

Examples of remainder in a Sentence

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

First Known Use of remainder

1904

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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REMAINDER Defined for English Language Learners

remainder

noun

Definition of remainder for English Language Learners

the remainder : the part that is left when the other people or things are gone, used, etc.
mathematics : the number that is left when one number is subtracted from another number
: the number that is left over when one number does not divide evenly into another number

remainder

verb

Definition of remainder for English Language Learners

: to sell (a book) at a reduced price because not many copies are being sold and no more copies will be produced

REMAINDER Defined for Kids

remainder

noun re·main·der \ ri-ˈmān-dər \

Definition of remainder for Students

1 : a group or part that is left

She took the remainder of the cake.

2 : the number left after a subtraction

5 minus 3 leaves a remainder of 2.

3 : the number left over from the dividend after division that is less than the divisor 10 divided by 3 leaves 3 with a remainder of 1.

Law Dictionary

remainder

noun re·main·der

legal Definition of remainder

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 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