noun
Uncommon
residency
REH-zih-duhn-see
Residency (noun) means the status or right of living in a particular place, especially officially. Example: “She applied for residency after marrying a citizen.”
noun
1
The status or right of living in a particular place, especially officially.
"She applied for residency after marrying a citizen."
"You need proof of residency before you can register at the local library."
"Permanent residency lets him live and work in the country without a visa."
2
A period of advanced hospital training undertaken by a doctor after medical school.
"He is halfway through his surgical residency."
"She completed her residency in a busy city hospital before becoming a children's doctor."
"During his residency, he often worked long night shifts on the emergency ward."
3
A regular, extended run of performances by an artist at one venue.
"The DJ has a monthly residency at the club."
"The jazz singer began a summer residency at the small theatre by the river."
"Their weekly residency at the pub has made the band popular with locals."
How to use residency
Learner’s notes
Common mistake
Don't mix up with "residence" (the physical home) — "residency" is about status, training, or a run of shows.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
apply for residency
medical residency
a residency at
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Word forms
- Plural
- residencies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She applied for _____ after marrying a citizen.
Etymology
From "reside" plus "-ency", or "resident" plus "-cy".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for residency
agency
latency
urgency
potency
decency
regency
currency
tendency
clemency
leniency
frequency
emergency
See all rhymes for residency →
Frequently asked questions
What does “residency” mean?
The word “residency” means the status or right of living in a particular place, especially officially.
How do you pronounce “residency”?
“Residency” is pronounced REH-zih-duhn-see (/ˈɹɛzɪdənsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “residency” in a sentence?
Here is “residency” used in a sentence: “She applied for residency after marrying a citizen.”
What part of speech is “residency”?
“Residency” is a noun.
Is “residency” a common word?
“Residency” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “residency” have?
“Residency” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the status or right of living in a particular place, especially officially.
What is the difference between "residency" and "residence"?
"Residency" refers to the status or right of living in a particular place, especially officially, or to a specific training program or performance run. "Residence" more commonly refers to the physical place where someone lives, such as a house or apartment.
What is a medical residency?
A medical residency is a period of advanced hospital training undertaken by a doctor after completing medical school, allowing them to specialize in a particular field of medicine. It is a required step before a doctor can practice independently in most specialties.
What does it mean for an artist to have a residency at a venue?
When an artist has a residency at a venue, it means they perform a regular, extended run of shows there over a set period, rather than a single one-off performance. This differs from the legal sense of residency, which concerns the right to live in a place.
