residency

noun

res·​i·​den·​cy ˈre-zə-dən(t)-sē 

ˈrez-dən(t)-, 

ˈre-zə-ˌden(t)-

plural residencies

1

a

: a usually official place of residence

b

: a state or period of residence

a 20-year residency in the city

also : residence sense 2c

2

: a territory in a protected state in which the powers of the protecting state are executed by a resident agent

3

a

: a period of advanced training in a medical specialty that normally follows graduation from medical school and licensing to practice medicine

b

: residence sense 4b

c

: a period as an artist in residence

Synonyms of residency

• occupancy
• occupation
• habitation

Examples of residency in a Sentence

You must meet the town's residency requirement in order to vote.

a four-year residency in the country

She recently completed her residency in pediatrics.

Recent Examples on the Web

As housing costs rise, residency policies change, remote work matures, and global uncertainty reshapes long-term planning, prospective expats are looking beyond yesterday's relocation favorites. — Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Galloway will not earn a salary, nor do UC regents have a residency requirement. — Lia Russell july 22, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026

It was followed by a 12-show residency in June at London’s Wembley Stadium where the Grammy winner set the Guinness World Record for the longest residency by a musician at the famed venue. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 21 July 2026

In a separate 2026 Kansas study, more than half of residents reported receiving fewer than five hours of menopause education — and the majority did not believe that residency fully prepared them to treat menopausal patients independently. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for residency

• presidency

Kids Definition

residency

noun

res·​i·​den·​cy ˈrez-əd-ən-sē 

-ə-ˌden(t)-

plural residencies

1

a

: a usually official place of residence

b

: a state or period of residence

a four-year residency in the country

c

: residence sense 2b

applied for residency

2

a

: a period of advanced training especially in a medical specialty that typically follows graduation from medical school

b

: residence sense 3b

Medical Definition

residency

noun

res·​i·​den·​cy ˈrez-əd-ən-sē 

plural residencies

: a period of advanced medical training and education that normally follows graduation from medical school and licensing to practice medicine and that consists of supervised practice of a specialty in a hospital and in its outpatient department and instruction from specialists on the hospital staff

Legal Definition

residency

noun

res·​i·​den·​cy ˈre-zə-dən-sē 

plural residencies

1

: an often official place of residence

2

: the condition of being a resident of a particular place