What does "remainder" mean?
A part or parts remaining after some has/have been removed or already occurred.
Remainder
/ɹɪˈmeɪndə/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A part or parts remaining after some has/have been removed or already occurred.
- Grammar: remainder is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: residue, balance, leftover, residuum.
- Useful contrasts: largest part, adjunct, dearth.
- Usage evidence: He was excused from the remainder of the work.
How to use "remainder"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "remainder" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "remainder" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "remainder" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "remainder" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "remainder" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "residue" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "remainder", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A part or parts remaining after some has/have been removed or already occurred.
"My son ate part of his cake and I ate the remainder."
- 2 a piece of cloth that is left over after the rest has been used or sold wordnet
- 3 The amount left over after subtracting the divisor as many times as possible from the dividend without producing a negative result. If n (dividend) and d (divisor) are integers, then n can always be expressed in the form n = dq + r, where q (quotient) and r (remainder) are also integers and 0 ≤ r < d.
"17 leaves a remainder of 2 when divided by 3."
- 4 the number that remains after subtraction; the number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend wordnet
- 5 The number left over after a simple subtraction
"10 minus 4 leaves a remainder of 6"
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 the part of the dividend that is left over when the dividend is not evenly divisible by the divisor wordnet
- 7 Excess stock items left unsold and subject to reduction in price.
"I got a really good price on this shirt because it was a remainder."
- 8 something left after other parts have been taken away wordnet
- 9 An estate in expectancy which only comes in its heir's possession after an estate created by the same instrument has been determined
Verb
- 1 To mark or declare items left unsold as subject to reduction in price. transitive
"The bookstore remaindered the unsold copies of that book at the end of summer."
- 2 sell cheaply as remainders wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Remaining. not-comparable
Example
"He was excused from the remainder of the work."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "remainder"?
Common synonyms include: residue, balance, leftover, residuum, rest, surplus.
How do you use "remainder" in a sentence?
He was excused from the remainder of the work.
How do you pronounce "remainder"?
Pronounced /ɹɪˈmeɪndə/.
Etymology
From Middle English remaindre, remeigner, from Anglo-Norman remaindre, with infinitive used as noun.