# remainder

/ɹiˈmeɪndɝ/ (US) · /ɹɪmˈeɪndɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/remainder
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the rest of something

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

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

### 2. maths result

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

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

### 3. unsold books

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- I found a beautiful hardback book for only two dollars in the remainder section.
- The publisher was forced to sell the first edition as a remainder after the sequel failed to generate the expected market interest.

Teaching tip: This is a specific industry term in publishing; learners may see these in 'bargain' bins at bookstores.

### 4. legal property right

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

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

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

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

### 5. to discount unsold stock

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- I will spend the remainder of the day finishing my report.
- After the initial costs were covered, the remainder of the budget was donated to a local charity.
- The court ruled that the remainder of the estate should be held in trust until the youngest heir reached the age of twenty-five, ensuring long-term financial security.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.