WordGarden.ioresidential
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /rˌɛzɪdˈɛnʃəl/
US
- /ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl/
Meanings
Adjective
relating to homes, housing, or areas where people live
involving people living on site at a school, care setting, or program
Beyond the definition
Think of a place where people live. "Residential" describes areas, buildings, or zones mainly used for homes and daily life. It can refer to a house, an apartment building, a neighborhood, or even a whole part of a town made up mostly of homes. You would not usually expect heavy industry in a residential area, but you might expect streets, parks, schools, and families. A "residential street" is often quiet, while a "commercial district" is full of shops, offices, and business activity.
"Residential" describes anything connected with where people live: their homes and the areas around them that are designed for daily living. It is not only a label for a building; it also tells you what kind of place something is.
You will often hear "residential" used in city planning or zoning rules: "This area is zoned residential," meaning it is meant mostly for homes rather than shops, factories, or offices. The idea is to keep the area suitable for living. You may also hear phrases like "residential building," "residential neighborhood," or "residential street," all pointing to places made for people to live in.
The word can also suggest that a place feels suitable for home life. For example, an area may have "residential appeal" if it feels safe, comfortable, and pleasant for the people who live there. It is often contrasted with "commercial" (used for business), "industrial" (used for manufacturing), or "agricultural" (used for farming).
Sometimes, "residential" is used when talking about a person's home address, meaning the place where that person actually lives. More broadly, the word brings to mind neighborhoods, homes, and the everyday pattern of life in a community. So when you see or hear "residential," think of places made for living, not mainly for business or industry.
Examples
- 1
Neighborhood
They rented a flat in a quiet residential neighborhood near the station.
- 2
Zoning
The city won’t allow a factory to be built in a residential area.
- 3
Building use
The ground floor is for shops, but the upper floors are residential.
- 4
Official address
Please enter your residential address, not your work address, on the form.
- Phraseresidential address
the address where you live
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Treatment setting
After leaving the hospital, he spent three weeks in a residential treatment program.
- Domainresidential treatment program
one where people live there while receiving treatment
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- residential area
- residential property
- residential building
- residential zoning
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- residentialadjective