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

November 27, 2025 Earlier this month, Chinese art collector Cherry Xu’s fashion-art foundation Cheruby — based in Shanghai — opened an exhibition and residency program with a show from fashion designer and artist Bárbara Sánchez-Kane. —Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025

States such as Arizona, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas have proposed new barriers to mail-in voting processes—and by extension, to overseas and military voters—through burdensome proof-of-citizenship requirements and narrow residency requirements for voting by mail. —Ellen Gustafson, Time, 26 Nov. 2025

The residency marks a homecoming for Platt, who began his early theatre career on the same stage, and provides a seasonal option for fans of musical theater. —Holly Alvarado, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025

But for all these expenses and restrictions, the new program offers something great in return—an easier path to permanent residency. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 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