Residence vs. Home: What's the Difference?

Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on September 26, 2023

Residence refers to a place where one lives; home is where one lives, especially as a member of a family or household, often conveying a sense of belonging.

Key Differences

The terms Residence and Home both pertain to places of dwelling but differ in connotation and emotional context. Residence generally refers to a place where an individual or a family lives, often emphasizing the physical structure or location. It’s usually perceived as more formal and can be synonymous with terms like house, apartment, or dwelling. On the other hand, home is a more emotionally laden term, signifying a place of belonging, comfort, and familiarity, possibly independent of the physical structure.

Residence conveys less emotional attachment and can denote temporary or permanent dwelling places. It is often used in formal contexts, such as legal or official documents, to signify where a person is living currently. Home, conversely, is more intimate and conveys a sense of warmth and belonging, reflecting not just a physical space but also the emotional and relational environment within that space.

Residence is more specific to the physical aspects of a dwelling place. It can refer to any place occupied by an individual, family, or group and does not necessarily signify ownership or a long-term arrangement. Home is a broader concept, potentially signifying a native land or place of origin, reflecting personal identity, and often implying a sense of ownership and permanency.

A residence can be transient; people may have multiple residences for work or other purposes. It’s a term that does not inherently include emotional connections or personal attachments. A home, however, is inherently personal and emotionally significant. It’s often a singular term reflecting the place where one feels most comfortable and connected, even if one has multiple residences.

In essence, while residence and home both denote places of dwelling, residence is more about the physical or legal aspects of a place, and home is more about the emotional and relational aspects, reflecting personal identity and a sense of belonging.

Comparison Chart

Connotation

Formal, emphasizes the physical structure or location.

Intimate, conveys a sense of warmth, belonging, and comfort.

Emotional Context

Generally has less emotional attachment, can denote temporary dwelling.

Signifies a deeper emotional connection and is often considered a singular term.

Ownership/Permanency

Does not necessarily signify ownership or a long-term arrangement.

Implies a sense of ownership and permanency.

Usage

Often used in formal contexts such as legal or official documents.

More commonly used to reflect personal identity and a sense of familiarity.

Specificity

Specific to the physical aspects of a dwelling place.

Broader concept, reflecting both the physical and emotional environment.

Residence and Home Definitions

Residence

The official house of a government official.

The governor's residence was heavily guarded.

Home

The place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.

They made the small apartment their home.

Residence

A building used as a home.

The residence towered over the surrounding houses.

Home

A place of residence.

His home was a modest cottage.

Residence

A place where an individual or family lives.

The residence was located in a quiet neighborhood.

Home

A place where something flourishes, is most typically found, or from which it originates.

The country is the home of the tango.

Residence

The act or fact of dwelling in a place for some time.

His residence in the city was short-lived.

Home

A place of origin, comfort, and belonging.

She left her home and moved to the city.

Residence

The place in which one lives; a dwelling.

Home

A place where one lives; a residence.

Residence

The act or a period of residing in a place.

Home

The physical structure within which one lives, such as a house or apartment.

Residence

A medical residency.

Home

A dwelling place together with the family or social unit that occupies it; a household.

Residence

The official home or location of a corporation.

Home

An environment offering security and happiness.

Residence

The place where one lives (resides); one's home.

Home

A valued place regarded as a refuge or place of origin.

Residence

A building or portion thereof used as a home, such as a house#Noun or an apartment#Noun therein.

Home

The place, such as a country or town, where one was born or has lived for a long period.

Residence

The place where a corporation is established.

Home

The native habitat, as of a plant or animal.

Residence

The state of living in a particular place or environment.

Home

The place where something is discovered, founded, developed, or promoted; a source.

Residence

Accommodation for students at a university or college.

Home

A headquarters; a home base.

Residence

The place where anything rests permanently.

Home

(Baseball) Home plate.

Residence

Subsidence, as of a sediment

Home

(Games) Home base.

Residence

That which falls to the bottom of liquors; sediment; also, refuse; residuum.

Home

An institution where people are cared for

A home for the elderly.

Residence

(espionage) rezidentura

Home

The starting position of the cursor on a text-based computer display, usually in the upper left corner of the screen.

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.

Home

A starting position within a computer application, such as the beginning of a line, file, or screen or the top of a chart or list.

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.

Home

Of or relating to a home, especially to one's household or house

Home cooking.

Home furnishings.

Residence

The residing of an incumbent on his benefice; - opposed to nonresidence.

Home

Taking place in the home

Home care for the elderly.

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.

Home

Of, relating to, or being a place of origin or headquarters

The home office.

Residence

Subsidence, as of a sediment.

Home

(Sports) Relating to a team's sponsoring institution or to the place where it is franchised

A home game.

The home field advantage.

Residence

That which falls to the bottom of liquors; sediment; also, refuse; residuum.

Home

Of, relating to, or being the keys used as base positions for the fingers in touch-typing

The home row on a standard keyboard consists of the keys for A, S, D, F, J, K, L,.

, and '.

Residence

Any address at which you dwell more than temporarily;

A person can have several residences

Home

At, to, or toward the direction of home

Going home for lunch.

Residence

The official house or establishment of an important person (as a sovereign or president);

He refused to live in the governor's residence

Home

On or into the point at which something is directed

The arrow struck home.

Residence

The act of dwelling in a place

Home

To the center or heart of something; deeply

Your comments really hit home.

Residence

A large and imposing house

Home

To go or return to one's residence or base of operations.

Residence

An act of residing; occupancy.

The residence of the tenant was under question.

Home

To guide (a missile or aircraft) to a target.

Home

To arrange to have (an animal) placed in a home.

Home

To take (an animal) into one's home.

Home

A dwelling.

Home

One’s own dwelling place; the house or structure in which one lives; especially the house in which one lives with one's family; the habitual abode of one’s family.

Home

The place (residence, settlement, country, etc.), where a person was born and/or raised; childhood or parental home; home of one’s parents or guardian.

Does she still live at home? - No, she moved out and got an apartment when she was 18, but she still lives in the city.

Home

The abiding place of the affections, especially of the domestic affections.

Home

A house that has been made home-like, to suit the comfort of those who live there.

It's what you bring into a house that makes it a home

Home

A place of refuge, rest or care; an asylum.

A home for outcasts

A home for the blind

A veterans' home

Instead of a pet store, get your new dog from the local dogs’ home.

Home

(by extension) The grave; the final rest; also, the native and eternal dwelling place of the soul.

Home

One’s native land; the place or country in which one dwells; the place where one’s ancestors dwell or dwelt.

Home

The locality where a thing is usually found, or was first found, or where it is naturally abundant; habitat; seat.

The home of the pine

Home

A focus point.

Home

(board games) The ultimate point aimed at in a progress; the goal.

The object of Sorry! is to get all four of your pawns to your home.

Home

(baseball) Home plate.

Home

(lacrosse) The place of a player in front of an opponent’s goal; also, the player.

Home

(Internet) The landing page of a website; the site's homepage.

Home

The chord at which a melody starts and to which it can resolve.

Home

Clipping of home directory

Home

To return to its owner.

The dog homed.

Home

To seek or aim for something.

The missile was able to home in on the target.

Home

Of, from, or pertaining to one’s dwelling or country; domestic; not foreign

Home

That strikes home; direct, pointed.

A home truth

Home

(obsolete) Personal, intimate.

Home

(sports) Relating to the home team (the team at whose venue a game is played).

The home end, home advantage, home supporters

Home

To one's home

Home

To one's place of residence or one's customary or official location

Go home

Come home

Carry someone home

Home

To one's place of birth

Home

To the place where it belongs; to the end of a course; to the full length

She drove the nail home

Ram a cartridge home

Home

(internet) To the home page

Click here to go home.

Home

At or in one's place of residence or one's customary or official location; at home

Everyone's gone to watch the game; there's nobody home.

I'm home!

Home

To a full and intimate degree; to the heart of the matter; fully, directly.

Home

Into the goal

Home

(nautical) into the right, proper or stowed position

Sails sheeted home

Home

See Homelyn.

Home

One's own dwelling place; the house in which one lives; esp., the house in which one lives with his family; the habitual abode of one's family; also, one's birthplace.

The disciples went away again to their own home.

Home is the sacred refuge of our life.

Home! home! sweet, sweet home!There's no place like home.

Home

One's native land; the place or country in which one dwells; the place where one's ancestors dwell or dwelt.

Home

The abiding place of the affections, especially of the domestic affections.

He entered in his house - his home no more,For without hearts there is no home.

Home

The locality where a thing is usually found, or was first found, or where it is naturally abundant; habitat; seat; as, the home of the pine.

Her eyes are homes of silent prayer.

Flandria, by plenty made the home of war.

Home

A place of refuge and rest; an asylum; as, a home for outcasts; a home for the blind; hence, esp., the grave; the final rest; also, the native and eternal dwelling place of the soul.

Man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.

Home

The home base; as, he started for home.

Home

Of or pertaining to one's dwelling or country; domestic; not foreign; as home manufactures; home comforts.

Home

Close; personal; pointed; as, a home thrust.

Home

In various games, the ultimate point aimed at in a progress; goal

Home

To one's home or country; as in the phrases, go home, come home, carry home.

Home

Close; closely.

How home the charge reaches us, has been made out.

They come home to men's business and bosoms.

Home

To the place where it belongs; to the end of a course; to the full length; as, to drive a nail home; to ram a cartridge home.

Wear thy good rapier bare and put it home.

Home

To return home.

Home

To proceed toward an object or location intended as a target; - of missiles which can change course in flight under internal or external control; usually used with in on; as, the missile homed in on the radar site.

Home

To arrive at or get closer to an object sought or an intended goal; used with in on; as, the repairman quickly homed in on the cause of the malfunction.

Home

Where you live at a particular time;

Deliver the package to my home

He doesn't have a home to go to

Your place or mine?

Home

Housing that someone is living in;

He built a modest dwelling near the pond

They raise money to provide homes for the homeless

Home

The country or state or city where you live;

Canadian tariffs enabled United States lumber companies to raise prices at home

His home is New Jersey

Home

An environment offering affection and security;

Home is where the heart is

He grew up in a good Christian home

There's no place like home

Home

An institution where people are cared for;

A home for the elderly

Home

The place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end

Home

A social unit living together;

He moved his family to Virginia

It was a good Christian household

I waited until the whole house was asleep

The teacher asked how many people made up his home

Home

(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score;

He ruled that the runner failed to touch home

Home

Place where something began and flourished;

The United States is the home of basketball

Home

Provide with, or send to, a home

Home

Return home accurately from a long distance;

Homing pigeons

Home

Used of your own ground;

A home game

Home

Relating to or being where one lives or where one's roots are;

My home town

Home

Inside the country;

The British Home Office has broader responsibilities than the United States Department of the Interior

The nation's internal politics

Home

At or to or in the direction of one's home or family;

He stays home on weekends

After the game the children brought friends home for supper

I'll be home tomorrow

Came riding home in style

I hope you will come home for Christmas

I'll take her home

Don't forget to write home

Home

On or to the point aimed at;

The arrow struck home

Home

To the fullest extent; to the heart;

Drove the nail home

Drove his point home

His comments hit home

Home

The native habitat or environment of an animal or plant.

The woods are home to many species of wildlife.

FAQs

Is a home usually considered a singular term?

Yes, a home is often considered a singular term reflecting the place where one feels most comfortable and connected.

Is residence used in legal or official documents?

Yes, the term residence is often used in legal or official documents to signify where a person is living.

Can home imply a sense of ownership and permanency?

Yes, home often implies a sense of ownership and permanency.

Can a residence denote a temporary dwelling place?

Yes, a residence can denote either a temporary or permanent dwelling place.

Can home reflect personal identity?

Yes, home can reflect personal identity and a sense of familiarity and comfort.

Is a residence generally a formal term?

Yes, a residence is generally considered a more formal term referring to a dwelling place.

Does a home convey a sense of belonging?

Yes, a home often conveys a sense of belonging, comfort, and familiarity.

Is home a broader concept than residence?

Yes, home is a broader concept, reflecting both physical and emotional environments.

Can people have multiple residences?

Yes, people can have multiple residences for work or other purposes.

Does residence emphasize the physical structure or location?

Yes, residence typically emphasizes the physical structure or location of a dwelling place.

Can residence refer to any place occupied by an individual or group?

Yes, residence can refer to any place that is occupied by an individual, family, or group.

Is residence specific to the physical aspects of a dwelling place?

Yes, residence is specific to the physical aspects of a dwelling place.

Is home inherently personal and emotionally significant?

Yes, home is inherently personal and emotionally significant.

Does home signify a deeper emotional connection?

Yes, home signifies a deeper emotional connection and a sense of warmth and belonging.

Can residence be transient?

Yes, a residence can be transient, denoting temporary dwelling.

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About Author

Written by

Janet White

Janet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.

Edited by

Aimie Carlson

Aimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.