Residence vs. Resident — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 7, 2023
Residence is the place where someone lives, while resident refers to the person who inhabits a given place.
Difference Between Residence and Resident
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A residence is a dwelling—a physical structure or space where someone lives. It refers to the house, apartment, or other such structure. Resident, in contrast, denotes an inhabitant of a residence or locale.
Residence implies a location and can be temporary or permanent. It can be an apartment, house, dormitory, or other form of dwelling. The resident is the individual who occupies this dwelling, making it their home or living space.
The term residence can also imply the act of dwelling in a place. Conversely, a resident carries a sense of belonging and often has legal implications, such as the right to vote or access to local services.
The type of residence can denote status or type of living arrangement, such as a single-family residence. A resident, however, is not defined by the residence but by their choice or circumstance of living there.
Residence is about the structure or place. The resident is about the person. One can change their residence without ceasing to be a resident of a city or country, and vice versa.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
The place where one lives
The person who lives in a place
Usage
Noun, as in a place of living
Noun, referring to a person
Context
Architectural, legal, domicile
Demographic, legal, community
Grammatical Use
Used as a noun and occasionally as a verb (residing)
Strictly used as a noun
Connotations
Can imply status, type, or legality of habitation
Often implies permanence or legal status
Compare with Definitions
Residence
A person's legal address or domicile
Her residence is registered in Nevada.
Resident
A doctor in training at a hospital
She's a resident at the local hospital.
Residence
The structure where someone lives
Their residence overlooks the lake.
Resident
A person who lives in a specific place
She is a long-term resident of the building.
Residence
Type of housing structure
The residence was designed by a renowned architect.
Resident
Someone who has legal rights in a place
As a resident, he can access the community pool.
Residence
The period or act of living in a place
His residence in the apartment spanned five years.
Resident
A person's association with a place
The residents of the town voted for a new mayor.
Residence
A living arrangement
They moved to their summer residence in July.
Resident
A diplomatic official residing in a foreign seat of government.
Residence
A residence is a place (normally a building) used as a home or dwelling, where people reside.
Resident
A colonial official acting as adviser to the ruler of a protected state, often having quasi-gubernatorial powers.
Residence
A person's home, especially a large and impressive one
The youth hostel has been adapted from a private residence
Resident
A member of an intelligence-gathering or nonuniformed law enforcement agency who resides and oversees operations in a certain locale
The FBI resident in St. Louis.
Residence
The place in which one lives; a dwelling.
Resident
One who lives in a dormitory.
Residence
The act or a period of residing in a place.
Resident
A physician receiving specialized clinical training in a hospital, usually after completing an internship.
Residence
A medical residency.
Resident
A nonmigratory bird or other animal.
Residence
The official home or location of a corporation.
Resident
Dwelling in a particular place; residing
Resident aliens.
Residence
The place where one lives (resides); one's home.
Resident
Living somewhere in connection with duty or work.
Residence
A building or portion thereof used as a home, such as a house#Noun or an apartment#Noun therein.
Resident
Filling a particular role in a group or organization
The museum's official resident poet.
The office's resident gossipmonger.
Residence
The place where a corporation is established.
Resident
Inherently present
Resident anxieties.
Residence
The state of living in a particular place or environment.
Resident
Nonmigratory
Resident fauna.
Residence
Accommodation for students at a university or college.
Resident
A person, animal or plant living at a certain location or in a certain area.
Residence
The place where anything rests permanently.
Resident
A bird which does not migrate during the course of the year.
Residence
Subsidence, as of a sediment
Resident
A physician receiving specialized medical training.
She's a resident in neurosurgery at Mass General.
Residence
That which falls to the bottom of liquors; sediment; also, refuse; residuum.
Resident
A diplomatic representative who resides at a foreign court, usually of inferior rank to an ambassador.
Residence
(espionage) rezidentura
Resident
(legal) A legal permanent resident, someone who maintains residency.
Residence
The act or fact of residing, abiding, or dwelling in a place for some continuance of time; as, the residence of an American in France or Italy for a year.
The confessor had often made considerable residences in Normandy.
Resident
(espionage) rezident
Residence
The place where one resides; an abode; a dwelling or habitation; esp., a settled or permanent home or domicile.
Johnson took up his residence in London.
Resident
Dwelling, or having an abode, in a place for a continued length of time; residing on one's own estate.
Resident in the city or in the country
Residence
The residing of an incumbent on his benefice; - opposed to nonresidence.
Resident
Based in a particular place; on hand; local.
He is our resident computer expert.
Residence
The place where anything rests permanently.
But when a king sets himself to bandy against the highest court and residence of all his regal power, he then, . . . fights against his own majesty and kingship.
Resident
(obsolete) Fixed; stable; certain.
Residence
Subsidence, as of a sediment.
Resident
Currently loaded into RAM; contrasted with virtual memory.
Residence
That which falls to the bottom of liquors; sediment; also, refuse; residuum.
Resident
Dwelling, or having an abode, in a place for a continued length of time; residing on one's own estate; - opposed to nonresident; as, resident in the city or in the country.
Residence
Any address at which you dwell more than temporarily;
A person can have several residences
Resident
Fixed; stable; certain.
One there still resident as day and night.
Residence
The official house or establishment of an important person (as a sovereign or president);
He refused to live in the governor's residence
Resident
One who resides or dwells in a place for some time.
Residence
The act of dwelling in a place
Resident
A diplomatic representative who resides at a foreign court; - a term usualy applied to ministers of a rank inferior to that of ambassadors. See the Note under Minister, 4.
Residence
A large and imposing house
Resident
Someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
Resident
A physician (especially an intern) who lives in a hospital and cares for hospitalized patients under the supervision of the medical staff of the hospital;
The resident was receiving special clinical training at the hospital
Resident
Living in a particular place;
Resident aliens
Resident
Used of animals that do not migrate
Resident
One who lives somewhere on a long-term basis
He became a permanent resident last year.
Common Curiosities
What is a residence?
A residence is a place where someone lives, like a house or apartment.
Who is considered a resident?
A resident is a person who lives in a particular location.
Can the term 'residence' refer to temporary living situations?
Yes, it can refer to both temporary and permanent living situations.
Does 'resident' imply legal status?
Often, it does imply legal status or certain rights within a community.
Can the same building be both a residence and a place of business?
Yes, a building can serve multiple purposes including being a residence.
How do I prove my residence?
Usually through documents like a utility bill, lease agreement, or ID.
Is a dorm room a residence?
Yes, a dorm room can be considered a residence for a student.
Is a resident always a human, or can it be an organization?
Typically, a resident refers to an individual, but in broader terms, it can refer to entities occupying a space.
Do you need to own a place for it to be called your residence?
No, ownership is not required; a residence is simply where you live.
What is the difference between a resident and a citizen?
A resident lives in a place; a citizen has legal rights and responsibilities there.
Do residents always have to pay taxes in their place of residence?
It depends on local laws, but typically, residents pay taxes where they live.
What is a permanent resident?
A permanent resident is someone who has the right to live indefinitely in a country, not necessarily a citizen.
What changes when I change my residence?
Your address, potentially your tax obligations, and your local legal rights may change.
Can a person have more than one residence?
Yes, a person can have multiple residences, like a primary home and a vacation home.
Can tourists be considered residents?
No, tourists are temporary visitors, not residents.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Obligee vs. Obligor
Next Comparison
Pixie vs. FairyAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
