# residual

/ɹɪˈzɪdʒuəɫ/ (US) · /ɹɪsˈɪdʒuːəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/residual
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. remaining

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

remaining after the main part of something has gone or been taken away.

For teachers: relating to or constituting a residue; remaining after the majority of a substance or quantity has been removed or processed.

- Even after cleaning the engine, there was some residual oil on the floor.
- The laboratory results indicated a small amount of residual pesticide in the soil samples, despite the field not being treated for several years.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 2. a remainder

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a small amount of something that remains after a process is finished.

For teachers: a quantity or substance remaining after a specific process, such as evaporation or combustion, has been completed.

- The chemist analyzed the residual left in the bottom of the flask.
- The industrial process was designed to minimize the toxic residuals that often accumulate during the cooling phase.

### 3. entertainment payments

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

money paid to actors or writers when their show or movie is shown again.

For teachers: payments made to creative professionals, such as performers or directors, for the subsequent broadcast or sale of a recorded work.

- The actor still receives residuals every time the old sitcom airs on TV.
- The union negotiated a new contract to ensure that writers receive fair residuals from streaming platforms as well as traditional broadcast networks.

Usage: Almost always used in the plural form 'residuals'.

### 4. statistical difference

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Technical

the difference between a real measurement and what a mathematical model predicted.

For teachers: the difference between an observed value and the value predicted by a statistical model or regression line.

- The researcher checked the residuals to see if the model was accurate.
- A pattern in the residuals suggested that the linear model was inappropriate for the dataset and required a non-linear approach.

### 5. paranormal presence

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

a feeling or energy left in a place after a big event or a person's death.

For teachers: a spiritual or energetic trace allegedly left in a location following a significant or traumatic event.

- Some people believe the cold spot in the hallway is a residual from the house's history.
- Paranormal investigators often distinguish between an intelligent haunting and a mere residual that repeats like a recording.

## Examples

- The researcher calculated the residual for each data point.
- If the residuals are randomly distributed around zero, it suggests the linear model is a good fit for the data.
- By examining the residuals, the statistician identified several outliers that were skewing the results of the initial population growth study.

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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.