Remote describes something far away in distance or time, or something unlikely to happen. A remote village might be hundreds of miles from the nearest city, accessible only by hiking trails or small planes. A remote ancestor lived many generations ago, perhaps in a different century or even millennium.

When scientists explore remote regions of the ocean floor or remote corners of the rainforest, they're investigating places few people have ever reached. These locations feel isolated and disconnected from everyday life.

The word also describes small possibilities. If there's only a remote chance of snow in July, it's technically possible but extremely unlikely. When someone says “I don't have the remotest idea,” they mean they have absolutely no clue.

A remote control gets its name because it lets you operate a television or drone from a distance, without touching it directly. Similarly, when people work remotely, they do their jobs from home or another location instead of going to an office.

The word carries a sense of separation or disconnection. A remote possibility feels distant and hard to imagine. A remote wilderness area feels untouched and far from civilization. Something remote exists at the edges of our reach or understanding.