What does "domestic" mean?

1. (relating to the home) relating to the home, house, or family life. 2. (within one country) relating to your own country rather than foreign countries. 3. (tame animals) an animal that lives with humans, like a pet or a farm animal. 4. (a household worker) a person who is paid to work in someone else's home, like a cleaner or cook. 5. (a private argument) a fight or argument between people who live together.

How do you use "domestic"?

Often used before nouns like 'chores', 'life', or 'violence'. Common in business and political contexts to distinguish from 'international'. Often used as a shorthand for 'domestic dispute' or 'domestic disturbance'.

domestic

adj. · n.

US //dəˈmɛstɪk// UK //dəmˈɛstɪk// do·mes·tic

1 relating to the home (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

relating to the home, house, or family life.

relating to the household, the family, or the running of a home.

Example

They share the domestic chores like cooking and cleaning every evening.

Example

The shift in domestic roles has seen more men taking an active part in childcare and household management than in previous generations.

Usage

Often used before nouns like 'chores', 'life', or 'violence'.
- public
- professional
2 within one country (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

relating to your own country rather than foreign countries.

existing or occurring inside a particular country; not foreign or international.

Example

The airline offers both domestic and international flights from this airport.

Example

The president focused his speech on domestic issues such as healthcare and education rather than foreign policy.

Usage

Common in business and political contexts to distinguish from 'international'.

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3 tame animals (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Science

an animal that lives with humans, like a pet or a farm animal.

referring to an animal species that has been tamed and kept by humans for work, food, or companionship.

Example

Dogs were the first domestic animals to live alongside humans.

Example

The domestic cat retains many hunting instincts from its wild ancestors despite centuries of living in human households.
- tame
- house trained
- wild
- feral
4 a household worker (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

a person who is paid to work in someone else's home, like a cleaner or cook.

a person employed to perform household tasks in a private residence.

Example

In the past, large houses required many domestics to keep them running.

Example

The legislation was designed to protect the rights of domestics and ensure they received a fair minimum wage.

Teacher's tip

This noun use is somewhat dated or very formal; 'domestic worker' is more common in modern professional contexts.
- employer
5 a private argument (n.)
C1 Advanced British English Informal

a fight or argument between people who live together.

a dispute or violent confrontation between family members or partners in a home.

Example

The police were called to the flat because of a loud domestic.

Example

Neighbors reported hearing a domestic next door, but the noise subsided before the authorities arrived.

Usage

Often used as a shorthand for 'domestic dispute' or 'domestic disturbance'.

Origin

From Middle French domestique, from Latin domesticus, from domus (“house, home”).

Word family

Adjectivedomestic
Adverbdomestically