resident

1 of 2

adjective

res·​i·​dent ˈre-zə-dənt 

ˈrez-dənt,

ˈre-zə-ˌdent

1

a

: living in a place for some length of time : residing

b

: serving in a regular or full-time capacity

the resident engineer for a highway department

also : being in residence

2

: present, inherent

3

: not migratory

resident species

resident

2 of 2

noun

1

: one who resides in a place

2

: a diplomatic agent residing at a foreign court or seat of government

especially : one exercising authority in a protected state as representative of the protecting power

3

: a physician serving a residency

Synonyms

Noun

• inhabitant
• occupant
• resider

Examples of resident in a Sentence

Adjective

Several tribes are resident in this part of the country.

Noun

a resident of Atlanta

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Spend a day hiking or biking around the land that’s home to all kinds of wild species, from fish to migratory and resident birds to reptiles. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025

Meet and interact with one of LEC’s resident animal ambassadors and learn about its natural behaviors and survival adaptations. —Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025

Noun

Kinloch addressed his supporters at a gospel music celebration put on by metro Detroit pastors and musicians at Mount Zion Baptist Church over the weekend, and attended listening sessions with residents who invited him to speak. —Dana Afana, Freep.com, 7 Aug. 2025

The 52-year-old Milwaukee resident, who works in Brown Deer, has been a barber for more than 21 years. —Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin resident-, residens, present participle of residēre

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing resident

• co-resident
• minister resident
• resident commissioner

Rhymes for resident

• nonresident

Kids Definition

resident

1 of 2 adjective

res·​i·​dent ˈrez-əd-ənt 

-ə-ˌdent

1

: living in a place for some length of time

2

: working on a regular or full-time basis

a resident physician

3

: not migrating to other areas

resident birds

resident

2 of 2 noun

1

: one who resides in a place

2

: a person (as a physician) serving a residency

Medical Definition

resident

noun

res·​i·​dent ˈrez-əd-ənt, ˈrez-dənt 

: a physician serving a residency

Legal Definition

resident

noun

res·​i·​dent

ˈre-zə-dənt

: one who has a residence in a particular place but does not necessarily have the status of a citizen compare citizen sense 1, domiciliary

resident adjective