residence
Americannoun
-
residences
plural
-
the place, especially the house, in which a person lives or resides; dwelling; home.
Their residence is in New York City.
- Synonyms:
- domicile, habitation
-
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
-
the act or fact of residing.
during his residence in Spain.
-
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.
-
the time during which a person resides in a place.
a residence there of five years.
-
the location of the main offices or principal center of business activity of a commercial enterprise, especially a large corporation, as registered under law.
-
Chemistry. residence time.
noun
-
the place in which one resides; abode or home
-
a large imposing house; mansion
-
the fact of residing in a place or a period of residing
-
the official house of the governor of any of various countries
-
the state of being officially present
-
-
actually resident
the royal standard indicates that the Queen is in residence
-
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
-
-
the seat of some inherent quality, characteristic, etc
Synonym Usage
See house.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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; see origin at reside, -ence
Explanation
The house or apartment where you live is your place of residence. If you're house proud, it means you keep your residence nice and tidy. The act of living in a place is also called residence. You might take up residence in an ancient oak tree when the city threatens to cut it down, for example. The official home of a person in a position of power — like a monarch or a president — is also called a residence. The official residence of the British Prime Minister is 10 Downing Street, and the residence of the President of the United States is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Vocabulary lists containing residence
There's No Word Like Home
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Inside Ball’s former Charlotte residence, soaring ceilings and expansive windows create an open atmosphere, allowing natural light to flow throughout the home’s generously proportioned living spaces.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
Elpidio Orozco said the department was aware of Gutierrez’s arrest, which happened about 3 p.m. at a residence in Sylmar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
“I regret that he left Brazil, because he could have stayed here and proven that the accusations are not true,” Lula told supporters outside the presidential residence in Brasilia.
From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026
Journalists including AFP witness Bolsonaro's official motorcade leaving his Brasilia residence.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
Laura walked me through the residence, showing me room upon room upon room.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
To date, 233 new homes have been completed, 3,851 building permits have been issued and 2,396 residences are under construction.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
Achiuwa is joining an increasingly star-studded list of athletes who have secured residences inside the development.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
The electric vehicle maker is expanding its business selling industrial-scale batteries to support data centers, as well as products supporting renewable energy for the grid and residences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
The High Court has ruled a "significant error" was made in the application for a warrant to search his residences, it writes.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
They wove through a neighborhood where the homes became increasingly larger and the grounds more vast, until the residences disappeared entirely behind gates and ivy-covered walls.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
