What does reside mean?
“Reside” means to live in a place, be located there, or exist within a particular condition or area. Its most common use is in formal or official contexts: a person may reside in a country, city, or particular building, while an institution may reside in a specified region. The verb can also describe where something exists in a broader sense, as in a problem residing in a particular system or a dispute residing in a disagreement. “Reside” is generally more formal and precise than “live,” though both are widely used. In the expression “reside in,” it emphasizes a person’s home or regular place of habitation; “reside at” is often used when a more exact address or site is relevant. The word derives from Latin and has long been associated with settlement, legal residence, and belonging to a place.
To live in a particular place or to be situated there.
"The family resides in a small apartment near the station."
Often used in formal and official contexts. “Reside in” is the usual construction for a place of living; “reside at” may be used when naming a precise location.
To exist or be found in a specified place, condition, or sphere.
"The root of the problem resides in the way the data are stored."
This figurative use is common in formal writing and technical discussion.
The word reside comes from Latin roots meaning “to sit back,” a fitting origin for a word that describes where someone has settled.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reside come from?
The English verb comes from Latin residere, formed from re- and sidere, both related to sitting. In Latin, the word meant to remain, stay, or sit back, and by extension it came to mean to live in a place. It developed into the modern English verb through Old French and Middle English usage, while related forms such as residence, resident, residual, and residue preserve the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How reside is actually used
“Reside” is more formal than “live” and is especially common in legal, official, and administrative contexts. It can be followed by “in” for a place of residence or “at” for a more precise location. In figurative use, it often means that something is present or exists in a particular sphere.