What does nonresidence mean?
Nonresidence means the state of not living permanently or ordinarily in a specified place. Its use is especially common in law, taxation, immigration, and benefits administration, where a person's place of residence can determine tax liability, jurisdiction, or eligibility for local privileges. Someone may claim nonresidence because they maintain a home and substantial economic ties elsewhere, even if they spend some time in the place concerned. The word is more formal than everyday expressions such as “living abroad” and should not be confused with nonresident, which names a person rather than the status or condition. It is also more specific than the general word absence: nonresidence implies a relevant question of where a person is considered to live, rather than merely being temporarily elsewhere. Consequently, the term often carries administrative and legal implications.
nounThe state of not living in a particular place, especially as a legal or tax status distinct from officially residing there.
- The state of not living in a particular place.
- Legal or tax status resulting from not being ordinarily resident in a jurisdiction.
"Her prolonged stays abroad established her nonresidence in the country."
"The company challenged his claim of nonresidence in the state."
"Her nonresidence made her ineligible for the local resident permit."
The plural is grammatically possible but rarely needed because nonresidence is normally treated as an abstract condition or uncountable use.
"The records documented the nonresidences of several owners living overseas."
Nonresidence turns a simple question—where do you live?—into a matter of law, taxes, and official status.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of nonresidence
Nonresidence is formed in English by combining the negative prefix non- with residence. Residence derives through Old French from Latin residentia, itself based on residere, meaning “to remain” or “sit back.” The same Latin root produced resident, residency, and residential, all of which concern the condition of living in a place.
Related word forms
How nonresidence is actually used
The term is most common in legal, administrative, and tax contexts. It can sound bureaucratic and is not normally used for temporary absences from home.
Easily confused with nonresidence
Nonresidence is the abstract legal or factual state of not living somewhere, whereas a nonresident is a person who lives elsewhere.