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

In her book, Good Energy, and in public appearances, Means has said that her residency experience left her disillusioned with the state of modern medicine. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025

Trump's new surgeon general nominee sparks drama Means graduated from Stanford Medical School and pursued a surgical residency as an otolaryngologist, often called an ENT doctor. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

Thereby enabling the Town Managers to correlate presents needs of new residency to Town Capital Improvement Projects upgrades. —Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025

After the vote, supervisors directed county staff to outline qualifications for the next sheriff, including San Mateo County residency, professional law enforcement certification, and experience managing correctional facilities and department budgets, among other requirements. —Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025

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