domestic

adjective do·mes·tic \ də-ˈmes-tik \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Examples: domestic in a Sentence

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

The typhoon also caused the cancellation of 138 international flights and 170 domestic flights.

— Fox News, "Typhoon Maria barrels into China after pounding Taiwan," 11 July 2018
Regional jets, or aircraft with 50 to 100 seats, account for around 40% of all domestic U.S. flights.

— alastair gale, WSJ, "The Pressure Is On for Japan’s First Jetliner," 10 July 2018
Rosie Rosie is a 5-year-old domestic short haired cat.

— lainey seyler, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Totally pawsome offer: Wisconsin Humane Societies are waiving cat adoption fees in July," 5 July 2018
For almost six years, basic economy was limited to domestic flights and budget airlines.

— meredith carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "International Basic Economy: How Every Major Airline Compares," 5 July 2018
Many of the ready-mades here are domestic, like the old bathtub, complete with Rorschach rust stains, that the Los Angeles artist and poet Ser Serpas hangs up in the corner.

— joseph giovannini, New York Times, "Swiss Institute Has a New Home Ready-Made for Art," 28 June 2018
As concerns about residents not being able to use their licenses to board domestic flights increased, state lawmakers passed a measure last year creating the two-tiered licensing system.

— rachel la corte, The Seattle Times, "Changes coming to standard Washington licenses, IDs," 28 June 2018
Add in domestic pet cats that are allowed to roam outdoors and the total number jumps to 649 million reptiles lost to felines each year.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Australian Feral Cats Eat More Than a Million Reptiles Per Day," 26 June 2018
To put that into perspective, the average weight of a domestic cat is between 8-10 pounds.

— mallorie sullivan, Cincinnati.com, "This 29-pound cat found roaming the Pasadena streets is what we've always been looking for," 15 June 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

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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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