domestic

noun

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

Synonyms of domestic

• servant

Examples of domestic in a Sentence

She got in a domestic with her husband.

working as a team, the couple hired themselves out as domestics for wealthy homeowners

Recent Examples on the Web

Charades is handling international rights with CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group handling domestic. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 May 2026

Auntie Sheila had arranged for Eileen to be sent to work as a domestic for a local farmer who had a gaggle of children and endless errands to be done. —Literary Hub, 8 May 2026

In Florida, most art students go on to work for Disney World; Carly’s Chateau is a theme park scaled to the domestic. —Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026

The company also aims to reduce supply chain risks by keeping core manufacturing domestic. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing domestic

• court of domestic relations
• domestic animal
• domestic emoluments clause
• domestic partner
• domestic prelate
• domestic relations court
• domestic science
• domestic shorthair
• domestic violence
• gross domestic product
• non-domestic

Rhymes for domestic

• majestic

Kids Definition

domestic

1 of 2 adjective

do·​mes·​tic də-ˈmes-tik 

1

a

: living near or about the places where human beings live

domestic vermin

b

: living with or under the care of human beings : tame

a domestic cat

2

: of, relating to, made in, or done in one's own country

domestic steel

3

: of or relating to a household or family

domestic chores

domestically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

domestic

2 of 2 noun

: a household servant

Etymology

from early French domestique "living around humans, domestic," from Latin domesticus (same meaning), from domus "house" — related to dome, domicile

Legal Definition

domestic

adjective

do·​mes·​tic də-ˈmes-tik 

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