residential

adjective

res·​i·​den·​tial ˌre-zə-ˈden(t)-shəl 

ˌrez-ˈden(t)-

1

a

: used as a residence or by residents

residential property

b

: providing living accommodations for students

a residential prep school

2

: restricted to or occupied by residences

a residential area/street/neighborhood

3

: of or relating to residence or residences

residential customers

residential insurance policies

4

: provided to patients residing in a facility

residential drug treatment

also : being a facility providing such treatment

a residential treatment center

residentially

ˌre-zə-ˈden(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

ˌrez-ˈden(t)-

adverb

Examples of residential in a Sentence

The company offers insurance for commercial and residential customers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Housing shortages sometimes happen when cities can’t issue residential building permits fast enough to keep vacancy rates low and rent high in a secondary market. — Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Hillsboro Mile’s formula So far in 2026, the most expensive residential sale in Broward County was the $42 million July purchase of 1107 Hillsboro Mile by tech and media executive Mason Paul Slaine, according to property records. — Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026

The agency considers requests from utilities on increasing gas and electric rates for residential and business customers in Michigan. — Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Pictures circulated on social media showed a Land Rover, purportedly belonging to Thomas, laying upside down on the side of a narrow residential street. — Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing residential

• co-residential
• residential college

Rhymes for residential

• consequential
• deferential
• existential
• exponential
• influential
• nonessential
• penitential
• precedential
• preferential
• presidential
• providential
• referential

Kids Definition

residential

adjective

res·​i·​den·​tial ˌrez(-ə)-ˈden-chəl 

1

: used as a residence or by residents

a residential hotel

2

: suitable for or containing residences

a residential neighborhood

3

: of or relating to residence or residences

4

: provided to patients staying in a facility

residential treatment

residentially

-ˈdench-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

residential

adjective

res·​i·​den·​tial ˌrez(-ə)-ˈden-chəl 

: provided to patients residing in a facility

residential drug treatment