residue

noun

res·​i·​due ˈre-zə-ˌdü 

-ˌdyü

: something that remains after a part is taken, separated, or designated or after the completion of a process : remnant, remainder

The stove was covered in a greasy residue after cooking.

: such as

a

: the part of a testator's estate remaining after the satisfaction of all debts, charges, allowances, and previous devises and bequests

b

: the remainder after subtracting a multiple of a modulus from an integer or a power of the integer that can appear as the second of the two terms in an appropriate congruence

2 and 7 are residues of 12 modulo 5

c

: a constituent structural unit (such as a group or monomer) of a usually complex molecule

amino acid residues from hydrolysis of protein

Synonyms of residue

• debris
• rubble
• wreckage
• remains
• ruins
• remnant

Examples of residue in a Sentence

The grill was covered in a greasy residue from the hamburgers.

The divorce left a residue of pain in the family.

There was some kind of sticky residue on the floor.

She left the residue of her estate to her daughter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Investigators never recovered the murder weapon, and Flynn was never tested for gunshot residue. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Meat residue was found under the cut plate of the meat bandsaw. — Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

The deodorants that made the cut applied smoothly without excessive residue or irritation and helped keep underarms feeling fresh throughout the day. — Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026

From the time of Bitcoin’s 2009 launch, crypto had occupied the murkier end of legal gray zones; in the eyes of CFTC regulators, crypto prediction markets, which inherited the moral and legal residue of gambling prohibition, were doubly marked. — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin residuum, from neuter of residuus left over, from residēre to remain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing residue

• residue class

Rhymes for residue

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

residue

noun

res·​i·​due ˈrez-ə-ˌd(y)ü 

: whatever remains after a part is taken, set apart, or lost or after the completion of a process

Medical Definition

residue

noun

res·​i·​due ˈrez-ə-ˌd(y)ü 

: something that remains after a part is taken, separated, or designated

specifically : a constituent structural unit (as a group or monomer) of a usually complex molecule

amino acid residues in a protein

Legal Definition

residue

noun

res·​i·​due ˈre-zə-ˌdü, -ˌdyü 

: something that remains after a part is taken, separated, or designated

specifically : the part of a testator's estate remaining after the satisfaction of all debts, charges, taxes, and legacies other than residuary legacies