residence

residence — noun

1. A building or place where a person lives, such as a house, apartment, or other d

1.nounA2
Definition

A building or place where a person lives, such as a house, apartment, or other dwelling.

Example

The mayor's official residence is a large white building near the park.

collocation: official residence

Imran's new residence has three bedrooms and a small garden.

Common collocations
  • official residence
  • private residence
  • place of residence
  • family residence
Synonyms
  • home

    more personal and emotionally warm; preferred in everyday speech

  • house

    refers specifically to a detached building, not an apartment

  • dwelling

    even more formal than residence; used mainly in legal language

  • accommodation

    British English; usually temporary or rented, not necessarily a permanent home

Usage Note

More formal than 'home' or 'house'. Used in official contexts such as documents, news reports, or descriptions of important buildings. In everyday conversation, English speakers usually say 'home' or 'place' instead.

Common Mistakes

I bought a new residence yesterday.
I bought a new house yesterday.
'Residence' sounds too formal in casual speech; use 'house' or 'apartment' when talking about buying a home.

2. The legal or recognized situation of having a home in a specific town, city, or

2.nounB1
Definition

The legal or recognized situation of having a home in a specific town, city, or country for official purposes.

Example

Mauricio established his residence in Canada two years ago.

collocation: establish residence

Proof of residence is needed when you register your child for school.

collocation: proof of residence

Common collocations
  • proof of residence
  • establish residence
  • residence requirements
  • official residence
Synonyms
  • habitation

    much rarer; used in legal or very formal writing only

  • occupancy

    focuses on the act of using a building, not the legal state of living somewhere

Usage Note

Frequently appears in official expressions such as 'proof of residence', 'residence requirements', and 'establish residence'. Refers to the abstract state of living somewhere, in contrast to sense 1, which refers to the physical building.

Common Mistakes

I need to bring my residence to school.
I need to bring proof of residence to school.
'Residence' alone does not mean 'a document showing where you live'; use 'proof of residence' instead.

3. A creative professional — such as a writer, painter, musician, or dancer — who w

3.nounB2
Definition

A creative professional — such as a writer, painter, musician, or dancer — who works at a school, gallery, or other institution for a limited time, often to teach or create new work.

Example

The college invited a poet in residence to teach for one semester.

fixed phrase: poet in residence

As artist in residence, Zola held weekly workshops for students.

Common collocations
  • artist in residence
  • writer in residence
  • poet in residence
Synonyms
  • visiting artist

    broader term that does not require the fixed 'in residence' structure

  • fellow

    used in academic contexts, but does not always involve creative work

Grammar Patterns

[profession] + in residence

Usage Note

Always placed after the noun it describes (e.g., 'artist in residence', never 'in residence artist'). The phrase names both the person and the temporary position. Common roles include 'writer in residence', 'artist in residence', and 'composer in residence'.

Common Mistakes

She is an in-residence artist.
She is an artist in residence.
The word order is fixed; 'in residence' always follows the profession.

4. The act of moving to a place and beginning to live there permanently or for a lo

4.nounB1
Definition

The act of moving to a place and beginning to live there permanently or for a long period.

Example

When did Bilal take up residence in Paris? Right after his new job started.

phrasal noun pattern: take up residence

When the Wang family took up residence in the village, neighbors brought them food.

Common collocations
  • take up residence
Synonyms
  • settle

    verb form; implies staying permanently, while 'take up residence' can be for a long period without being permanent

  • move in

    informal; focuses on the physical act of bringing belongings into a new home

Grammar Patterns

take up residence + [place]

Usage Note

Almost always paired with 'take up' to form the phrase 'take up residence', which means the same as 'move to and start living in a place'. The phrase is more formal than 'move in' or 'move to'.

Common Mistakes

I took residence in London.
I took up residence in London.
The phrasal verb requires 'up'; 'take residence' without 'up' is incorrect.

5. The legal right granted by a government that allows a foreign-born person to sta

5.nounB2
Definition

The legal right granted by a government that allows a foreign-born person to stay in a country for an extended period, often leading toward citizenship.

Example

Imran applied for permanent residence in Australia through his employer.

collocation: permanent residence

Ritu's application for residence was approved by the immigration office.

Common collocations
  • permanent residence
  • residence permit
  • apply for residence
  • temporary residence
Synonyms
  • residency

    more common in US English; also used for medical training programs ('medical residency')

  • right to remain

    British legal term; focuses on the permission aspect rather than the status

Usage Note

Often confused with 'citizenship'. Residence allows a person to live in a country, while citizenship grants full political rights such as voting. Common modifiers are 'permanent', 'temporary', and 'indefinite'.

Common Mistakes

I got residence last year.
I got permanent residence last year.
In immigration contexts, 'residence' almost always needs a modifier like 'permanent' or 'temporary' to be clear.
I applied for residence of Canada.
I applied for residence in Canada.
Use 'in', not 'of', when naming the country.
Idioms

take up residence

idiom

To move to a place and begin living there, especially for a long or permanent stay.

The family took up residence in a small village in the mountains.

After retiring, Mark took up residence in a seaside town in Portugal.

in residence

idiom

Living or working at a particular institution, especially as a visiting artist, scholar, or professional who creates work or teaches there for a limited time.

Dr. Okafor is the visiting scholar in residence this term at the university.

The gallery has a new photographer in residence starting next month.

place of residence

idiom

The town, city, or building where someone officially lives, used especially on forms and official documents.

Your place of residence must be stated clearly on the tax form.

The police asked each witness for their place of residence.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Residence' is more formal than 'home' or 'house'. 'Home' carries emotional warmth and personal attachment ('She missed her hometown'), while 'residence' is neutral and official. 'House' refers specifically to a detached building, whereas 'residence' includes apartments and other dwellings. 'Dwelling' is even more formal and legalistic — rarely heard in everyday speech. 'Accommodation' (common in British English) means a place to live temporarily, like a rented flat or hotel room, whereas 'residence' implies a more permanent or official home. For example: 'The ambassador's residence is near the embassy' suggests an official home, while 'I'm looking for student accommodation near campus' means a temporary place to stay.

home ↗house ↗dwelling ↗accommodation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • residence hall
  • residence card
  • residence permit

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'residence' comes from Latin 'residēre', meaning 'to sit back' or 'to remain seated' — from 're-' (back) and 'sedēre' (to sit). The idea is of staying or remaining in one place. It passed through French into English in the 1300s, first referring to the act of living somewhere, and later to the building itself.