# modulus

/ˈmɔdʒuɫʊs/ (US) · /mˈɒdjʊləs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/modulus
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

the remainder left over after you divide one number by another. In programming, it helps you find if a number is even or odd.

For teachers: the remainder of a division operation. In mathematics and computer science, it is often used to determine the parity of a number or to cycle through a sequence of values.

## Examples

- The modulus of 10 divided by 3 is 1.
- By using the modulus operator, the program checks if the current year is a leap year by seeing if it is divisible by 4.
- In modular arithmetic, the modulus defines the size of the set of integers, effectively creating a circular number line where values wrap around after reaching a specific maximum.

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