residence

noun res·i·dence \ ˈre-zə-dən(t)s , ˈrez-dən(t)s , ˈre-zə-ˌden(t)s \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Definition of residence

1 a : the act or fact of dwelling in a place for some time

b : the act or fact of living or regularly staying at or in some place for the discharge of a duty or the enjoyment of a benefit

2 a (1) : the place where one actually lives as distinguished from one's domicile or a place of temporary sojourn

(2) : domicile 2a

b : the place where a corporation is actually or officially established

c : the status of a legal resident

3 a : a building used as a home : dwelling

b : housing or a unit of housing provided for students

4 a : the period or duration of abode in a place

b : a period of active and especially full-time study, research, or teaching at a college or university

— in residence

: engaged to live and work at a particular place often for a specified time

poet in residence at a university

See residence defined for English-language learners

See residence defined for kids

Examples of residence in a Sentence

He recently ended his residence at the apartment complex.
They were granted residence in this country.

Recent Examples of residence from the Web

That means about 14 percent of the student body will live in residence halls and on-campus apartments.

— kate murphy, Cincinnati.com, "Price to live on campus rises at the University of Cincinnati," 19 June 2018
But this time, academic buildings and residence halls are going up together to build a living and learning neighborhood.

— gary robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "UC San Diego begins building largest complex in campus history," 17 June 2018
New buildings sprouted under his leadership at the Middletown campus, including a new student center, gym and residence halls.

— matthew ormseth, courant.com, "Douglas Bennet, Former Wesleyan President and NPR CEO, Dies At 79," 11 June 2018
Still, the deals — one was to turn a residence hall into luxury rentals and the other a plan to auction off its television airwaves — do not equal a five-year strategic plan, which the school does not have.

— valerie strauss, Washington Post, "What’s going on at the nation’s premier historically black university?," 7 June 2018
Regardless of her intentions, Middleton and Prince William ended up living in the same residence hall and sharing a class schedule at St. Andrews.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "When Prince William Knew Kate Middleton Was “the One”," 24 May 2018
The school shootings in 2018 so far have ranged from mass casualties seen in Santa Fe or Parkland, Florida, to shots fired in college residence halls.

— jennifer calfas, Time, "The Santa Fe High School Shooting in Texas Was the 22nd School Shooting This Year," 18 May 2018
Yale University also apologized Wednesday after campus police were called on a black student who fell asleep in the common area of her residence hall.

— NBC News, "Black Airbnb guests seek dialogue with police and 911 caller," 10 May 2018
Student volunteers help others move into UTSA residence halls in 2017.

— krista torralva, San Antonio Express-News, "Grant to provide scholarships to UTSA computer science students," 9 May 2018

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

First Known Use of residence

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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residence Synonyms

Synonyms

abode, diggings, domicile, dwelling, fireside, habitation, hearth, hearthstone, home, house, lodging, pad, place, quarters, roof;

bungalow, cabin, casita, chalet, cottage;

duplex, ranch, ranch house, saltbox, split level, townhome, town house, tract house, triplex;

apartment, apartment house, condominium, flat, tenement, tenement house, walk-up;

penthouse, salon, suite;

barracks, billet, boardinghouse, dorm, dormitory, lodging house, lodgment (or lodgement), room(s), rooming house;

castle, château, countryseat, estate, hall, manor, manor house, mansion, palace, villa;

farmhouse, grange, hacienda, homestead;

hermitage, manse, parsonage, rectory, vicarage;

hovel, hut, hutch, shack, shanty;

RESIDENCE Defined for English Language Learners

residence

noun

Definition of residence for English Language Learners

: the state of living in a particular place
: the place where someone lives
: legal permission to live in a country

RESIDENCE Defined for Kids

residence

noun res·i·dence \ ˈre-zə-dəns \

Definition of residence for Students

1 : the act or fact of living in a place

2 : a building used for a home

3 : the time during which a person lives in a place

Law Dictionary

residence

noun res·i·dence \ ˈre-zə-dəns \

legal Definition of residence

1 : the act or fact of living in a place

2 a : the place where one actually lives as distinguished from a domicile or place of temporary sojourn

a person can have more than one residence but only one domicile

Note: A distinction is usually maintained between domicile and residence based on the relative permanency of a domicile and the intent to make it a principal place of abode. In some contexts, however, such as for determining proper venue domicile and residence are used as synonyms. Similarly residence and domicile are sometimes used as synonyms with regard to the place of incorporation of a business.

b : a place in which a corporation does business or is licensed to do business

3 : the status of a resident

4 : dwelling