domestic

adjective

do·mes·tic | \ də-ˈme-stik

Definition of domestic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : living near or about human habitations domestic vermin

b : tame, domesticated the domestic cat

2 : of, relating to, or originating within a country and especially one's own country domestic politics domestic wines domestic manufacturing all debts foreign and domestic

3 : of or relating to the household or the family domestic chores domestic happiness

4 : devoted to home duties and pleasures leading a quietly domestic life

5 : indigenous a domestic species

domestic

noun

Definition of domestic (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a servant hired to work for a household Her grandmother worked as a domestic.

2 : an article (such as a rug or blanket) manufactured within one's own country or for use in a household : an article of domestic (see domestic entry 1 sense 2) manufacture —usually used in plural

Other Words from domestic Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about domestic

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for domestic

Synonyms: Adjective

familial, household

Synonyms: Noun

daily [British], flunky (also flunkey), lackey, menial, retainer, servant, slavey, steward

Antonyms: Adjective

nondomestic, nonfamilial

Antonyms: Noun

master, mistress

Examples of domestic in a Sentence

Adjective

The company hopes to attract both foreign and domestic investors. the surest way to maintain domestic peace and harmony is to have everyone pitch in on chores

Noun

She got in a domestic with her husband. working as a team, the man and his wife hired themselves out as domestics for wealthy homeowners

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

What makes this feat even more impressive, is that most of the revenue for these movies has come from China’s growing domestic market. — Joshua Frank, Quartz, "What a flourishing homegrown film industry means for China and the world," 10 June 2019 The power sector accounts for more than 80 percent of domestic coal production, which fell to less than 760 million short tons last year. — James Osborne, Houston Chronicle, "Coal consumption continues to drop, despite Trump's efforts," 10 June 2019 The United States is alone in this mission to make millimeter wave the core of its domestic 5G networks. — Tom Simonite, WIRED, "Choosing the Wrong Lane in the Race to 5G," 10 June 2019 Her approach, with a major policy released seemingly every other day, is pointillistic; her various plans—from breaking up big tech to re-energizing domestic manufacturing—creating a cutting critique of the status quo. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, "Democrats Are Winning the Battle of Ideas, But Could Still Lose the War," 10 June 2019 Mr Trump may even succeed in creating some manufacturing jobs in America, as companies respond to the risk of new tariffs by deciding to serve a greater share of the domestic market from within. — The Economist, "President Donald Trump is trashing deals in favour of tariffs," 7 June 2019 Yet across East Africa, the camel dairy business remains rudimentary with much of it being sold and consumed in domestic markets or guzzled by young camels themselves. — Abdi Latif Dahir, Quartz Africa, "Camel milk could be the next superfood—thanks to East Africa," 6 June 2019 In the most likely scenario discussed in the report, Russia will become a Chinese satellite, boosting its military power and gradually allowing its domestic market to be subsumed. — Leonid Bershidsky, Twin Cities, "Leonid Bershidsky: Russia after Vladimir Putin," 5 June 2019 The head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency lost his job Tuesday after his remarks downplaying anti-migrant violence became a battleground between Chancellor Angela Merkel and her conservative critics. — Fox News, "Top German spy ousted after clash with Merkel over migrants," 18 Sep. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Most black Southerners were initially barred from receiving Social Security, for example, because farmworkers and domestics were not included. — Eric Schickler, Vox, "Debunking the myth that “identity politics” is bad for the Democratic Party," 21 Apr. 2018 The various domestics seasons will then begin their 2018/19 campaign in mid to late August. — SI.com, "Fixtures Announced: Man Utd, Real Madrid & Barcelona Among Giants Heading to USA for Huge 2018 ICC," 18 Apr. 2018 Local newspaper reporters would travel with the team, dine with the team and sometimes have one too many cold domestics with the team. — Amos Barshad, New York Times, "What Happens When Athletes Do the Sportswriting?," 21 Feb. 2018 Non-violent domestics, Rushton Road: Officers responded to a home at 11:30 p.m. Jan. 14 after a man reported his daughter, 18, had threatened him. — Andy Attina / Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Officers break up sibling fight in Taco Bell parking lot: South Euclid Police Blotter," 24 Jan. 2018 Most came from working-class black women, mainly domestics, who made up nearly 70% of the bus ridership. — Kirsten West Savali, The Root, "Rosa Parks, Recy Taylor and Gertrude Perkins Are Mothers of the #MeToo Movement," 8 Jan. 2018 Exotic woods like jatoba and tigerwood join the domestics of holly, walnut, birch and ash in details of the interior. — Anne Raup, Anchorage Daily News, "Rocket Man: Bill Guernsey and his Atomic Camper," 28 Sep. 2016 My grandparents were all domestics, and there's no shame in that. — Essence.com, "Natural Born Leader: Odyssey Media CEO Linda Spradley Dunn Is Making Sure Women Of Color Call The Shots," 30 Oct. 2017 But the flexibility of domestic as well as foreign customers is making gas production in the area more attractive to investors. — Lynn Cook, WSJ, "An Old Fracking Hot Spot Makes a Comeback," 17 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'domestic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about domestic

Dictionary Entries near domestic

Statistics for domestic

Last Updated

14 Jun 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for domestic

The first known use of domestic was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for domestic

domestic

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of domestic

(Entry 1 of 2)

: of, relating to, or made in your own country

: relating to or involving someone's home or family

: relating to the work (such as cooking and cleaning) that is done in a person's home

domestic

noun

English Language Learners Definition of domestic (Entry 2 of 2)

old-fashioned : a servant who is hired to work in someone's home : a domestic servant

British, informal : a fight between members of a family or household

See the full definition for domestic in the English Language Learners Dictionary

domestic

adjective

do·mes·tic | \ də-ˈme-stik

Kids Definition of domestic

1 : relating to a household or a family domestic life

2 : relating to, made in, or done in a person's own country The president spoke about both foreign and domestic issues.

3 : living with or under the care of human beings : tame domestic animals

domestic

adjective

do·mes·tic | \ də-ˈmes-tik

Legal Definition of domestic

1 : of or relating to the household or family a domestic servant domestic relations — see also family court

2 : of, relating to, or originating within a country or state and especially one's own country or state the state has personal jurisdiction over domestic corporations — compare foreign, municipal