residency

noun

res·​i·​den·​cy ˈre-zə-dən(t)-sē 

ˈrez-dən(t)-, 

ˈre-zə-ˌden(t)-

plural residencies

1

a

: a usually official place of residence

b

: a state or period of residence

a 20-year residency in the city

also : residence sense 2c

2

: a territory in a protected state in which the powers of the protecting state are executed by a resident agent

3

a

: a period of advanced training in a medical specialty that normally follows graduation from medical school and licensing to practice medicine

b

: residence sense 4b

c

: a period as an artist in residence

Synonyms of residency

• occupancy
• occupation
• habitation

Examples of residency in a Sentence

You must meet the town's residency requirement in order to vote.

a four-year residency in the country

She recently completed her residency in pediatrics.

Recent Examples on the Web

The law firm representing the Mansfield school district determined school board president Jandel Crutchfield does meet residency requirements to serve as a trustee. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026

Immigration status and tax residency are not the same thing. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

With a particular emphasis on Europe and China, this quickly evolved into the idea of a creative residency to support Chinese design talent through the Kering ecosystem. —Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 4 June 2026

The residency marks the Canadian singer’s return to the stage after postponing her past tour due to her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis. —Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for residency

• presidency

Kids Definition

residency

noun

res·​i·​den·​cy ˈrez-əd-ən-sē 

-ə-ˌden(t)-

plural residencies

1

a

: a usually official place of residence

b

: a state or period of residence

a four-year residency in the country

c

: residence sense 2b

applied for residency

2

a

: a period of advanced training especially in a medical specialty that typically follows graduation from medical school

b

: residence sense 3b

Medical Definition

residency

noun

res·​i·​den·​cy ˈrez-əd-ən-sē 

plural residencies

: a period of advanced medical training and education that normally follows graduation from medical school and licensing to practice medicine and that consists of supervised practice of a specialty in a hospital and in its outpatient department and instruction from specialists on the hospital staff

Legal Definition

residency

noun

res·​i·​den·​cy ˈre-zə-dən-sē 

plural residencies

1

: an often official place of residence

2

: the condition of being a resident of a particular place