re·sid·u·al / riˈzijoōəl/ • adj. remaining after the greater part or quantity has gone: the withdrawal of residual occupying forces. ∎  (of a quantity) left after other things have been subtracted: residual income after tax and mortgage payments. ∎  (of a physical state or property) remaining after the removal of or present in the absence of a causative agent: residual stenosis. ∎  (of an experimental or arithmetical error) not accounted for or eliminated. ∎  (of a soil or other deposit) formed in situ by weathering.• n. a quantity remaining after other things have been subtracted or allowed for. ∎  a difference between a value measured in a scientific experiment and the theoretical or true value. ∎  a royalty paid to a performer, writer, etc., for a repeat of a play, television show, etc. ∎  Geol. a portion of rocky or high ground remaining after erosion. ∎  the resale value of a new car or other item at a specified time after purchase, expressed as a percentage of its purchase price.DERIVATIVES: re·sid·u·al·ly adv.

residual The difference between a data observation and its corresponding fitted value obtained by regression analysis. The residual mean square is the sum of squared residuals divided by the appropriate degrees of freedom, and is an estimate of variance of random variation about the fitted model. Plots of residuals against data variables may suggest important modifications to the model. Plots of ranked residuals against percentage points of the normal distribution provide a check on the assumptions used in significance tests in regression analysis. Large residuals identify observations as outliers, whose exclusion from the analysis will make a large difference to the conclusions.

residual In statistics, data variability that is not accounted for by a particular statistical test. The residuals of individual data values, i.e. their difference from the statistically predicted value, often give ecologists insight into possible environmental influences on the individual data records.

residual In statistics, a data variability that is not accounted for by a particular statistical test. The residuals of individual data values (i.e. the difference between an observed and a computed value) often give ecologists insight into possible environmental influences on individual data records.

residual (stat.) A data variability that is not accounted for by a particular statistical test. The residuals of individual data values, i.e. the difference between an observed and a computed value, often give ecologists insight into possible environmental influences on individual data records.