residual

noun re·sid·u·al \ ri-ˈzi-jə-wəl , -jəl ; -ˈzij-wəl \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Definition of residual

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)

Recent Examples of residual from the Web

As for the major stars of the show, including Jessica Biel, experts estimated that each likely earned upwards of six figures annually in residuals from the show’s reruns.

— natalie stone, PEOPLE.com, "Roseanne, 7th Heaven and The Cosby Show: All the TV Shows Pulled Because of Their Stars' Scandals," 30 May 2018
Liquid meth that was cooling was located in the freezer and residuals on roasting pans were found in the kitchen.

— Fox News, "Mom, 25, is 'CEO' of huge Minnesota meth trafficking ring, prosecutors say," 10 May 2018
Lawrence claimed made an average of $6,966 a month, including $2,500 in residuals — but his monthly expenses were far higher: $25,505.35 total, per the documents, leaving him $18,539.35 a month in the red.

— aurelie corinthios, PEOPLE.com, "Blossom's Joey Lawrence Settles Bankruptcy Case After Accumulating $355K in Debt," 9 Apr. 2018
There’s no licensing, no residuals, no back-end percentages.

— liz raiss, GQ, "Jim Jones Is Still Salty About That Supreme Tee," 11 Apr. 2018
Additional liabilities totaling between $55 million and $65 million were discovered, including $27 million in unpaid residuals and profit participation; and $20 million in accounts payable.

— brooks barnes, New York Times, "Planned Sale of the Weinstein Company Collapses Again," 6 Mar. 2018
Coal ash -- or coal combustion residuals -- is the material left after burning coal, primarily at electric power plants.

— dennis pillion, AL.com, "Alabama's proposed coal ash plan has too many loopholes, critics say," 22 Mar. 2018
Coal combustion residuals, commonly called coal ash, are the remnants leftover after burning coal for electricity.

— dennis pillion, AL.com, "Alabama Power fined $1.25 million over coal ash ponds," 2 Mar. 2018
That same month director Kevin Smith donated his residuals on movies backed by Harvey Weinstein to the nonprofit Women in Film, which advocates for women in entertainment.

— patrick shanley, The Hollywood Reporter, "Timothee Chalamet Donates Salary From Woody Allen Film to Time's Up Fund," 16 Jan. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of residual

Latin residuum residue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1557

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Broadcasting Terms

continuity, dissolve, fade, feed, remote, spike, wipe

residual

adjective

Definition of residual

1 : of, relating to, or constituting a residue

2 : leaving a residue that remains effective for some time

a residual pesticide

—

residually

adverb

See residual defined for English-language learners

See residual defined for kids

Examples of residual in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of residual from the Web

Conversely, the residual uranium with U-235 removed is called depleted (this is the uranium used in armor-piercing ammunition).

— umair irfan, Vox, "Uranium enrichment will be a key point in talks with North Korea. Here’s what it is.," 11 June 2018
The good news for Brazil is that Neymar looked fantastic, and no residual effect from the foot injury was visible.

— daniel rapaport, SI.com, "2018 World Cup Group E Preview: It's Brazil and Three Challengers for Second," 8 June 2018
When a sniffer dog detects an odor (residual or otherwise), it is trained to let the handler know with a passive signal.

— saryn chorney, PEOPLE.com, "For $200, Kansas City Parents Can Rent a Drug Sniffing Dog to Raid Their Teen's Bedroom," 23 May 2018
The water temperature is about 52 degrees and has been tested at 98.9% pure; the residual is calcium carbonate with some traces of iron.

— john bordsen, USA TODAY, "North Korean nukes tracked from Tennessee tourist caverns," 13 Apr. 2018
Today, that rule permits a residual foraging economy in a state that’s 94 percent private property.

— ben goldfarb, Smithsonian, "How Seaweed Connects Us All," 31 May 2018
There will be some residual benefits for them, and understanding how the law changes data privacy for Europeans could throw into focus the digital rights people still lack elsewhere.

— arielle pardes, WIRED, "Europe's New Data Protections Will Affect You Too. Here's How.," 24 May 2018
Jared still having residual tears while talking about Bachelor Winter Games is accidentally hysterical.

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "45 Crucial Thoughts I Have About Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon's 'Story of Us' Video," 24 May 2018
Sharp, astringent, herbaceous and refreshing, Red Barn has only the slightest residual sweetness.

— peter rowe, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Is the world still coming to the San Diego International Beer Festival?," 24 May 2018

First Known Use of residual

1570

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

RESIDUAL Defined for English Language Learners

residual

adjective

Definition of residual for English Language Learners

: remaining after a process has been completed or something has been removed

Medical Dictionary

residual

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

medical Definition of residual

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

noun

medical Definition of residual

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

2 : a residual abnormality (as a scar or limp)

Law Dictionary

residual

adjective re·sid·u·al \ ri-ˈzi-jə-wəl \

legal Definition of residual

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

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Spanish Central: Translation of residual Nglish: Translation of residual for Spanish speakers

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residual

Definition of residual

Recent Examples of residual from the Web

Origin and Etymology of residual

Other Broadcasting Terms

residual

Definition of residual

residually

Examples of residual in a Sentence

Recent Examples of residual from the Web

First Known Use of residual

RESIDUAL Defined for English Language Learners

residual

Definition of residual for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

residual

medical Definition of residual

residual

medical Definition of residual

Law Dictionary

residual

legal Definition of residual

Learn More about residual

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