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

• balance
• leavings
• leftovers
• odds and ends
• remains
• remnant
• residue
• residuum
• 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

Charitable Giving - Donate to qualified charities through tools like charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) to lower your estate’s taxable amount while supporting meaningful causes. —James Brewer, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

That’s left a remainder in the 25 percent range for the third pair, most frequently composed of Brännström and Vincent Desharnais. —Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024

Verb

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

In vast quantities it has been remaindered Like a van-load of counterfeit that has been seized Behind his wit lurked a polymath. —New York Times, 27 Nov. 2019

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

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