residence
REZ-i-duhnss
/ˈrezɪdəns/
A person's home, or the place where someone lives; an official building where someone in authority resides.
More formal than 'home' or 'house'; on campus, 'residence hall' is preferred over 'dormitory' by modern university administrations.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'residere', formed from 're-' (back) and 'sedere' (to sit). It originally described sitting down in a place and remaining there permanently.
Word relationships
- dwelling: 'Dwelling' is a legal or technical term for any structure inhabited by humans.
- abode: 'Abode' is literary or poetic for a living place.
- workplace: A location designated for employment rather than living.
Commonly confused with
- resident: 'Resident' is the person who lives in a place, whereas 'residence' is the place itself.
Word family
- reside (verb): To live or dwell permanently in a particular place.
- resident (noun): A person who lives in a specific house or area.
- residential (adjective): Designed or suitable for living in.
Collocations
- hall of residence
- official residence
- place of residence
- residence permit
Idioms & expressions
- in residence (serving as a visiting expert or artist)
Example sentences
- "Proof of permanent residence must be submitted before financial aid can be disbursed." University policy document
- "The president of the university lives in an official residence situated at the north edge of campus." Official publication
Memory hook
Where you sit down and stay ('re-sit') is your residence. Reside + ence = official place to reside.
When not to use
Avoid using in casual everyday conversations when 'house' or 'home' sounds more natural.
Fun facts
- In legal terms, 'domicile' implies a permanent legal home, while 'residence' can refer to any temporary official place of living.
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