What does "remainder" mean?

1. (the rest of something) the part of something that is left after other parts have gone or been dealt with. 2. (maths result) the amount left over when one number cannot be divided exactly by another. 3. (unsold books) books that have not sold well and are now being sold at a very low price. 4. (legal property right) a right to own property in the future after someone else's right to it ends. 5. (to discount unsold stock) to reduce the price of books that did not sell so they can be cleared out.

How do you use "remainder"?

Usually follows 'the' and is followed by 'of'. Often used in the context of long division or modular arithmetic. Used as a countable noun in property law contexts. Usually used in the passive voice.

remainder

n. · v.

US //ɹiˈmeɪndɝ// UK //ɹɪmˈeɪndɐ// re·main·der

1 the rest of something (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the part of something that is left after other parts have gone or been dealt with.

the remaining part or number of something after the others have been removed, used, or completed.

Example

I will finish the remainder of my homework after I eat dinner.

Example

The board of directors decided to invest the remainder of the annual budget into renewable energy research and development.

Usage

Usually follows 'the' and is followed by 'of'.
- whole
- entirety
2 maths result (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Math

the amount left over when one number cannot be divided exactly by another.

the integer left over after dividing one number by another to produce a whole-number quotient.

Example

If you divide seven by three, the answer is two with a remainder of one.

Example

The algorithm calculates the remainder of the division to determine if the input integer is even or odd.

Usage

Often used in the context of long division or modular arithmetic.
- residue

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3 unsold books (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical

books that have not sold well and are now being sold at a very low price.

copies of a book that remain unsold after demand has fallen, typically sold at a reduced price by the publisher.

Example

I found a beautiful hardback book for only two dollars in the remainder section.

Example

The publisher was forced to sell the first edition as a remainder after the sequel failed to generate the expected market interest.

Teacher's tip

This is a specific industry term in publishing; learners may see these in 'bargain' bins at bookstores.
- surplus
- excess
4 legal property right (n.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Law

a right to own property in the future after someone else's right to it ends.

a future interest in real property that becomes effective only upon the natural termination of a prior estate created at the same time.

Example

The house was left to his wife for her life, with the remainder going to his son.

Example

The deed specified that the daughter held a vested remainder in the family estate, ensuring her ownership after her father's life interest expired.

Usage

Used as a countable noun in property law contexts.
- reversion
5 to discount unsold stock (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical

to reduce the price of books that did not sell so they can be cleared out.

to dispose of unsold stock, particularly books, by reducing the price significantly.

Example

The shop decided to remainder the old textbooks to make room for new editions.

Example

Once the title was remaindered, it became nearly impossible for the author to earn further royalties from those specific copies.

Usage

Usually used in the passive voice.
- discount
- liquidate

Origin

From Middle English remaindre, remeigner, from Anglo-Norman remaindre, with infinitive used as noun.