Residence Definition & Meaning

American

British

Related Words

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms residence American [rez-i-duhns] / ˈrɛz ɪ dəns /

noun

1. the place, especially the house, in which a person lives or resides; dwelling; home.

   Their residence is in New York City.

   Synonyms: domicile, habitation

2. a structure serving as a dwelling or home, especially one of large proportion and superior quality.

   They have a summer residence in Connecticut.

   Synonyms: mansion

3. the act or fact of residing.

   during his residence in Spain.

4. the act of living or staying in a specified place while performing official duties, carrying on studies or research, awaiting a divorce, etc..

   She will spend two terms in resident at Oxford University.

5. the time during which a person resides in a place.

   a residence there of five years.

   Synonyms: sojourn, abode, stay

6. the location of the main offices or principal center of business activity of a commercial enterprise, especially a large corporation, as registered under law.

7. Chemistry. residence time.

residence British / ˈrɛzɪdəns /

noun

1. the place in which one resides; abode or home

2. a large imposing house; mansion

3. the fact of residing in a place or a period of residing

4. the official house of the governor of any of various countries

5. the state of being officially present

6. 1. actually resident

      the royal standard indicates that the Queen is in residence

   2. designating a creative artist resident for a set period at a university, college, etc, whose role is to stimulate an active interest in the subject

      composer in residence

7. the seat of some inherent quality, characteristic, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See house.

Etymology

Origin of residence

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin residentia, equivalent to Latin resid(ēre) “to dwell, live in, reside” + -entia noun suffix; reside, -ence

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Set on a sprawling 10 acres at the foothills of the Topa Topa Mountains, the compound is anchored by a spectacular Mediterranean-style primary residence that spans more than 5,200 square feet.

From MarketWatch

Both were found dead at a local residence, police said.

From BBC

Nanos said authorities were “done with the residence” and had turned it over to the family.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Hopefully that Parole in Place will take full effect and then he can get his permanent residence, so we’re very happy,” Hernandez said.

From Los Angeles Times

A growing share of households—currently 30% of U.S. residences with internet access—own a security camera or video doorbell, according to data from research firm Parks Associates.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• apartment
• condo
• dwelling
• hall
• headquarters
• home
• house
• mansion
• palace

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.