residential
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to residence or to residences.
a residential requirement for a doctorate.
-
suited for or characterized by private residences.
a residential neighborhood.
adjective
-
suitable for or allocated for residence
a residential area
-
relating to or having residence
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of residential
Explanation
In the same way that an “industrial area” is a place of industry where people work, a residential area is made up of houses and apartment buildings — places where people reside. Residential is an adjective that expresses a relationship with homes, apartments, or any place where people live. You might refer to a residential building, a residential neighborhood, or a residential block. Something that is deemed “for residential use” is designed for use at home or rather than for business or commercial use.
Vocabulary lists containing residential
Out of My Mind
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Content Summary G.3: Spatial Reorganization
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Al Capone Does My Shirts
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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.
For residential care though the value of a person's home is generally part of the means test.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The power company’s core revenue does not depend on persuading residential regulators to approve higher bills every two years.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
In 2025 it enacted SB15, which provided for lot size flexibility in new residential subdivisions by overriding some minimum local lot-size requirements.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
An increase of that scale would put one quarter of Australian residential properties at risk of flooding.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
The town offers handsome, expensive residential neighborhoods, good schools, parks, golf courses, excellent day care for children.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
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.
