residual

[ ri-zij-oo-uhl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or constituting a residue or remainder; remaining; leftover.

   Synonyms: enduring, lasting, abiding

2. Mathematics.
   1. formed by the subtraction of one quantity from another:

      a residual quantity.

   2. (of a set) having complement of first category.
3. of or relating to the payment of residuals.
4. Medicine/Medical. remaining in an organ or part following normal discharge or expulsion:

   residual air.

5. Geology. remaining after the soluble elements have been dissolved:

   residual soil.

noun

1. a residual quantity; remainder.
2. Often residuals. something that remains to discomfort or disable a person following an illness, injury, operation, or the like; disability:

   His residuals are a weak heart and light-headedness.

3. Mathematics.
   1. the deviation of one of a set of observations or numbers from the mean of the set.
   2. the deviation between an empirical and a theoretical result.
4. Navigation. a slight deviation of an adjusted compass on a certain heading.
5. Usually residuals. additional pay given to a performer for reruns, repeated use of a film, radio or TV commercial, or the like, in which the performer appears.

residual

/ rɪˈzɪdjʊəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating a residue or remainder; remaining; left over
2. (of deposits, soils, etc) formed by the weathering of pre-existing rocks and the removal of disintegrated material
3. of or relating to the payment of residuals

noun

1. something left over as a residue; remainder
2. statistics
   1. the difference between the mean of a set of observations and one particular observation
   2. the difference between the numerical value of one particular observation and the theoretical result
3. often plural payment made to an actor, actress, musician, etc, for subsequent use of film in which the person appears

Derived Forms

• reˈsidually, adverb

Other Words From

• nonre·sidu·al adjective noun
• unre·sidu·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of residual¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin residu(um) “what is left over, remainder” (noun use of neuter of adjective residuus “left over,” derivative of resid(ēre) “to remain seated, be left over”) + -uus adjective suffix + -al adjective suffix; reside, -al ¹

Example Sentences

“I made it work with my little residual checks for a year and then I ended up moving into my sister’s garage for six years,” he admitted.

From Essence.com

While it’s possible to be successful trading currency, when people realize how difficult it is to learn, she says, they turn to signing people up instead so that they can receive the residual income.

From Fortune

Low residual value — the amount cars are worth after a few years of ownership — was one of many factors holding back wider adoption of EVs.

From Fortune

Finally, the model randomly applies some residual, state-specific error in each state.

From FiveThirtyEight

If they’re a qualified candidate for a prosthetic, Unlimited Tomorrow sends them a 3D scanner, which they use to scan their residual limb.

From Singularity Hub 

There is a lot of residual concern that Lizard Squad was able to get even this far.

From The Daily Beast

Then deal with the host of significant residual issues starting with the Dream Act kids.

From The Daily Beast

Was it wise for the US to leave Iraq without even a residual force in place?

From The Daily Beast

I thought I could feel something, but it was hard to tell if it was residual tingling from the massage or magic on the path.

From The Daily Beast

Defense Department officials initially suggested a sizable residual force, with estimates ranging from 16,000 to 24,000 troops.

From The Daily Beast

As we flung them into an empty chamber, I turned the burden face down, and on the back were two thin wisps of residual wings.

From Project Gutenberg

The quantity that can under no circumstances be expelled (residual air) is about 100 cubic inches.

From Project Gutenberg

What remains in the lungs, amounting to about 100 cubic inches, is called the residual air.

From Project Gutenberg

A residual product of this dish is a sort of hard-bake toffee, formed by the leakage of jam from the chupatties.

From Project Gutenberg

The magnetism remaining in the iron after the current stops is called the residual magnetism.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• continuing
• enduring
• lingering