domestic

adjective do·mes·tic \ də-ˈmes-tik \

Updated on: 17 May 2018

Definition of domestic

1 a : 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

—

domestically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See domestic defined for English-language learners

See domestic defined for kids

Examples of domestic in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of domestic from the Web

Without his assistance, PSG have gone on to complete a domestic treble, clinched by beating third division side Les Herbiers in the Coupe de France final.

— SI.com, "Marcelo Admits He'd Love to Play With Neymar at Real Madrid But Insists He Won't Try to Convince Him," 14 May 2018
The Motion Picture Association of America, which runs the voluntary domestic film ratings system, declined to comment.

— brooks barnes, New York Times, "Does Hollywood Need a PG-15 Rating?," 14 May 2018
Patrick Melrose is a five-part miniseries, based on five autobiographical Edward St. Aubyn novels, tracing the author’s troubled youth and his journey toward domestic normalcy — all set against the backdrop of the English upper-class.

— noel murray, The Verge, "Why The Fifth Estate is the perfect thing to stream this weekend," 11 May 2018
This is, after all, the man who as a state senator in 2010 introduced a domestic-violence bill making strangulation to the point of unconsciousness a violent felony.

— valentina zarya, Fortune, "Matt Lauer, Rose McGowan, Visa: Broadsheet May 10," 10 May 2018
The videotaped arrest this week of two men at a domestic-violence call prompted swift condemnation from family members and community leaders Wednesday, as San Diego sheriff's officials launched an investigation.

— jeff mcdonald, latimes.com, "Video of an arrest in Vista sparks anger at sheriff's department," 10 May 2018
So the full weight of the tax increase is just now being felt, even as world oil and domestic gas prices are going up for various reasons, including Trump playing with fire in the Middle East.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Will California Voters Blame High Gas Prices on Democrats or on Trump?," 10 May 2018
Historically, Black womanhood has been inseparable from motherhood, with Black female slaves expected to have children in order to create more slaves, and later relegated to domestic labor that included midwifery and childcare.

— refinery29.com, "Have Portrayals Of Black Motherhood On Screen Ever Reflected Real Life?," 9 May 2018
Ohio police officer kills suspect in exchange of fire, reports say KETTERING, Ohio -- Police say a suspect in a domestic-violence incident was killed late Saturday night after exchanging gunfire with an officer, according to reports.

— staff, cleveland.com, "Comment here on cleveland.com court and crime stories for Sunday, May 6, 2018," 6 May 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of domestic

Middle English, from Middle French domestique, from Latin domesticus, from domus — see ¹dome

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

domestic Synonyms

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

domestic

noun

Definition of domestic

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 ¹domestic 2) manufacture —usually used in plural

See domestic defined for English-language learners

Examples of domestic in a Sentence

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 of domestic from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of domestic

see ¹domestic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1613

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

domestic Synonyms

Synonyms

flunky (also flunkey), lackey, menial, retainer, servant, slavey, steward;

Antonyms

master, mistress;

Near Antonyms

boss, captain, chief, foreman, head, headman, helmsman, kingpin, leader, taskmaster;

handmaiden (also handmaid), housekeeper, housemaid, lady-in-waiting, maid, maidservant, woman;

DOMESTIC Defined for English Language Learners

domestic

adjective

Definition of domestic for English Language Learners

: 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

Definition of domestic for English Language Learners

: a servant who is hired to work in someone's home : a domestic servant
: a fight between members of a family or household

DOMESTIC Defined for Kids

domestic

adjective do·mes·tic \ də-ˈme-stik \

Definition of domestic for Students

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

—

domestically

\-sti-kə-lē\ adverb

Law Dictionary

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

Learn More about domestic

See words that rhyme with domestic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for domestic Spanish Central: Translation of domestic Nglish: Translation of domestic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of domestic for Arabic speakers

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domestic

Definition of domestic

domestically

Examples of domestic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of domestic from the Web

Origin and Etymology of domestic

domestic Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

domestic

Definition of domestic

Examples of domestic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of domestic from the Web

Origin and Etymology of domestic

domestic Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

DOMESTIC Defined for English Language Learners

domestic

Definition of domestic for English Language Learners

domestic

Definition of domestic for English Language Learners

DOMESTIC Defined for Kids

domestic

Definition of domestic for Students

domestically

Law Dictionary

domestic

legal Definition of domestic

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