domestic

adjective do·mes·tic \ də-ˈmes-tik \

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

China reportedly has 50,000 internet police who monitor domestic social media sites, deleting posts deemed seditious or merely critical of the government.

— dennis normile, Science | AAAS, "Science suffers as China’s internet censors plug holes in Great Firewall," 30 Aug. 2017
American researchers are increasingly going offshore to developing countries to conduct clinical trials, citing rising domestic costs.

— marisa taylor, Kaiser Health News, "Offshore Human Testing Of Herpes Vaccine Stokes Debate Over U.S. Safety Rules," 28 Aug. 2017
In China, knockoffs are a $400 billion dollar industry. The black- and gray-markets fill domestic stores with fake wine and fake food, and detectives have to be able to distinguish the quality fakes from the cheap ones to do their job well.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Breaking Into China’s Counterfeit Supply Chains," 24 Aug. 2017
The couple reportedly had a history of domestic disputes due to R. Mangan's violence, and earlier in August, he'd been arrested on battery charges.

— lilian min, Cosmopolitan, "Arkansas Mom Comes Home To Horrific Family Murder-Suicide," 23 Aug. 2017
In March, records show, Hoover police responded to the family's home on a domestic situation.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "Former lawyer who slit dog's throat headed back to court on new abuse claims," 22 Aug. 2017
On the campaign trail, Trump frequently criticized foreign adventurism as a drain on domestic resources.

— isobel thompson, The Hive, "With Bannon Gone, Trump Doubles Down in Afghanistan," 21 Aug. 2017
From there, detainees are flown to other domestic airports before being transported to their native country.

— javonte anderson, Post-Tribune, "ICE: More than 12,000 immigrants have been removed from Gary airport since 2013," 18 Aug. 2017
Even more revealing is that the number schools with such names have barely changed since the Huffington Post last did a similar survey in 2015 following the domestic terror attack against the Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "Report: Majority Of Students Who Attend Public Schools Named After Confederate Leaders Are Of Color," 18 Aug. 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.

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

See Words from the same year

domestic Synonyms

Synonyms

familial, household

Antonyms

nondomestic, nonfamilial

Related Words

homelike, homely, homy); residential

Near Antonyms

unbroken, untrained; wildish

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

On Tuesday, August 15, Venus (the planet of beauty and courtship) in domestic Cancer opposes Pluto — ruler of the underworld — in taskmaster Capricorn.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "What This Week's Horoscope Means for You," 14 Aug. 2017
One of those wily, devoted domestics who greases the gears, Dubois has conspired to secure Dorante a position in Araminte’s household.

— manohla dargis, New York Times, "Review: With ‘False Confessions,’ the Play’s Not Quite the Thing," 13 July 2017
Just remember that the cheaper days to fly domestic are usually Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, while Friday and Sunday are usually the most expensive.

— rick seaney, USA TODAY, "Combine fare classes for a taste of luxury," 27 June 2017
In most novels domestics serve only to open and close doors, make meals or assist with the toilette of those who have attained true selfhood.

— chandrahas choudhury, WSJ, "Japan’s Greatest Novelist," 12 May 2017
In these tales, the animal women are generally phenomenal domestics, and the plot usually goes one of two ways.

— jia tolentino, The New Yorker, "Beauty and the Bestiality," 27 Mar. 2017
There were several domestics, including the one where an 11-year-old girl was punched in the face by her father.

— todd axtell, Twin Cities, "Todd Axtell: A testament to the work of St. Paul police officers," 15 Jan. 2017

Origin and Etymology of domestic

see ¹domestic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1613

See Words from the same year

domestic Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

master, mistress

Related Words

butler, footman, groom, houseboy, houseman, majordomo, man, manservant, servitor, valet; handmaiden (also handmaid), housekeeper, housemaid, lady-in-waiting, maid, maidservant, wench, woman; assistant, attendant, companion, factotum, follower; dogsbody [chiefly British], drudge, gofer (or gopher)

Near Antonyms

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

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

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domestic Synonyms

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Other Animal Husbandry Terms

domestic

Definition of domestic

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Origin and Etymology of domestic

domestic Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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DOMESTIC Defined for English Language Learners

domestic

Definition of domestic for English Language Learners

domestic

Definition of domestic for English Language Learners

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domestically

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domestic

legal Definition of domestic

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