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Added 9 October 2026

residual

/ɹɪˈzɪd͡ʒ.ʊəl/ noun

Latin root: residuum Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about residual at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Something left after other parts have been taken away.
there was no remainder
(often plural) a payment that is made to a performer or writer or director of a television show or commercial that is paid for every repeat showing.
he could retire on his residuals

adjective

Relating to or indicating a remainder.
residual quantity

Origin

Recorded since 1570. From residue, itself borrowed during the Middle English period from Old French residu (Modern French résidu), from Latin residuum (“a remainder”), the neuter inflection of residuus (“remaining, left over”), perfect participle of resideō (“to remain behind”), from re- (“back, again”) + sedeō (“to sit, to reside”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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