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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."
2
A period of advanced hospital training undertaken by a doctor after medical school.
"He is halfway through his surgical residency."
3
A regular, extended run of performances by an artist at one venue.
"The DJ has a monthly residency at the club."

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

Word forms

residencies plural

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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".

domicile tenure citizenship status

Related words

Rhymes for residency

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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial