residency

noun

res·​i·​den·​cy ˈre-zə-dən(t)-sē How to pronounce residency (audio)
ˈrez-dən(t)-,
ˈre-zə-ˌden(t)-
plural residencies
1
a
: a usually official place of residence
b
: a state or period of residence
a 20-year residency in the city
2
: a territory in a protected state in which the powers of the protecting state are executed by a resident agent
3
a
: a period of advanced training in a medical specialty that normally follows graduation from medical school and licensing to practice medicine
c
: a period as an artist in residence

Examples of residency in a Sentence

You must meet the town's residency requirement in order to vote. a four-year residency in the country She recently completed her residency in pediatrics.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In total, the residency will gather 455,000 attendees, according to promoter OCESA. Natalia Cano, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2025 The Gold Card program fundamentally shifts the narrative around U.S. residency, framing it as a commodity rather than a privilege earned through traditional processes. Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025 One of these laws, Senate Bill 264, banned Chinese nationals without permanent U.S. residency from buying property or land in the state. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 23 Mar. 2025 During her first match cycle, that doctor didn't place into any residency programs either. Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for residency

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of residency was in 1579

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Residency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/residency. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

residency

noun
res·​i·​den·​cy ˈrez-əd-ən-sē How to pronounce residency (audio)
-ə-ˌden(t)-
plural residencies
1
a
: a usually official place of residence
b
: a state or period of residence
a four-year residency in the country
c
: residence sense 2b
applied for residency
2
a
: a period of advanced training especially in a medical specialty that typically follows graduation from medical school

Medical Definition

residency

noun
res·​i·​den·​cy ˈrez-əd-ən-sē How to pronounce residency (audio)
plural residencies
: a period of advanced medical training and education that normally follows graduation from medical school and licensing to practice medicine and that consists of supervised practice of a specialty in a hospital and in its outpatient department and instruction from specialists on the hospital staff

Legal Definition

residency

noun
res·​i·​den·​cy ˈre-zə-dən-sē How to pronounce residency (audio)
plural residencies
1
: an often official place of residence
2
: the condition of being a resident of a particular place

More from Merriam-Webster on residency

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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