remoter; remotest
1
a
: far away : distant
She enjoys reading about remote lands.
remote galaxies
b
: far away from other people, houses, cities, etc.
a remote island/village
The mission is to transport medical supplies to remote areas/places/regions of the globe.
2
always used before a noun
: far away in time : happening a long time ago or far into the future
a tradition that dates back to remote antiquity
an invention that may be available in the remote future
3
: very small : slight
There is a remote possibility that I'll be free Friday night.
a remote chance [=a very small possibility]
4
always used before a noun
: not closely related
remote ancestors
5
: very different from something
Their traditions are remote from our own.
6
: not friendly or involved with other people : distant or cold in manner
She became very remote in her old age.
7
always used before a noun
a
computers
: connected to a computer system from another place
a remote computer/machine/terminal
Remote users cannot access these files.
The computer is capable of remote access. [=it is possible to become connected to this computer from another place]
b
: capable of being controlled from a distance
a remote camera
remote sensors
Cite this Entry
“Remote.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/remote. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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