# residential

/ˌɹɛzɪˈdɛnʃəɫ/ (US) · /ɹˌɛzɪdˈɛnʃəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/residential
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. housing area

adjective · CEFR B2

describes an area where there are mostly houses and apartments rather than offices or factories.

For teachers: relating to or designed for people to live in; specifically used for urban areas zoned for housing rather than commerce or industry.

- The speed limit is lower here because it is a residential street with many families.
- The city council rejected the proposal for a new shopping mall, arguing that it would disrupt the quiet character of the surrounding residential neighbourhood.

### 2. living on-site

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describes a job, course, or school where you live at the place where you work or study.

For teachers: requiring or providing living accommodation on the premises of an institution or place of employment.

- She applied for a residential course so she could focus on her studies without commuting.
- The university offers a residential summer programme where students live in the dormitories and participate in evening seminars.

Usage: Often used to describe care facilities, schools, or intensive training programmes.

### 3. an overnight trip

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a trip, often for school or work, where people stay together in a building for a few days.

For teachers: a period of time spent staying at a facility for a specific purpose, such as a school trip or a team-building retreat.

- The year six students are going on a three-day residential to an outdoor activity centre.
- The company organised a weekend residential to help the new management team build stronger professional relationships.

## Examples

- The speed limit is lower in residential areas.
- The city council recently voted to convert the old industrial district into a quiet residential neighborhood with parks and schools.
- Urban planners must balance the demand for high-density residential developments with the need for adequate green space and public infrastructure to support the growing population.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.