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
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suitable for or allocated for residence
a residential area
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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.
Rancho San Antonio is home to a “Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program,” in which youths who have completed their time in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
Residential electric prices increased nearly 11% between January 2025 and this February, according to the latest available data from the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
Residential permits decreased 10.8% in March to 1.372 million, falling short of economists’ 1.39 million expectation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
Residential investment growth—which includes new single-family and multifamily construction, renovations, manufactured-home production, and brokers’ fees—is expected to decline outright for the first quarter.
From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026
A note from the Residential Services Manager appeared under my door a couple days ago, saying the groundskeeper would be here throughout the holiday, giving me his contact information.
From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour
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.
