What does residence mean?
Residence names both the act of living somewhere and the place where a person or family lives. It is especially common in official, administrative, and legal contexts, where it can identify a person's home or indicate the place associated with them for documentation purposes. “Permanent residence,” for example, describes a stable legal or personal home, while “residence permit” refers to an authorization allowing someone to live in a country. The word can also refer to the official home of a monarch, president, ambassador, or other senior figure, usually without the definite article in British usage. Residence is generally more formal than “home” and can imply legal status, duration, or official recognition. Its historical connection with Latin residere, meaning “to remain” or “to sit back,” reflects the idea of settling in one place and remaining there.
The state or condition of living in a particular place, especially as a home.
"His residence in the mountains had changed his life."
This use can sound formal, particularly when used in official or legal contexts.
A person's place of living, especially when stated for official, administrative, or legal purposes.
"Please enter your country of residence on the form."
Often used in phrases such as country of residence and place of residence.
The official home of a monarch, president, ambassador, or other senior figure.
"The presidential residence is guarded by security personnel."
This sense is especially associated with British English, as in “the Prime Minister's residence.”
The plural is used for multiple people or places of residence and is especially common in administrative, legal, and real-estate contexts.
"The application asks applicants to list all previous residences."
Residence is more than an address: it is the act of making somewhere your home.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of residence
Residence comes through Old French residence from Latin residentia, a noun formed from residere, meaning “to remain” or “to sit back.” The Latin root also gives English resident, reside, residual, and residue. In English, residence originally referred to the act of remaining or staying in a place before developing its modern meanings for a person's home and official place of residence.
Related word forms
How residence is actually used
In everyday use, residence often sounds formal and may suggest a person's official or legal home. In some administrative contexts, it refers to a person's presence in a country, as in a question about country of residence. In British English, the residence of a senior official can mean the official's official home, such as 10 Downing Street.
Easily confused with residence
Residence generally means the fact or place of living somewhere, while residency can emphasize a period of living in a place or a person's official status in a role or country.