Referring to property that still remains in the estate of the deceased after all the fees and taxes have been made and the and specific bequests and distributions made. The residuary estate includes any gifts or bequests that fail or lapse. For example, if a car is left to John and the remainder of the estate to Jill, and John dies prior to the deceased without an alternate for the car named, the car becomes part of the residuary estate. In this case, it passes to Jill.