Nonresident means someone who doesn't live permanently in a particular place, even though they might spend time there or have connections to it.

Think about summer camp: you're a nonresident of that campground because your actual home is somewhere else. Or imagine your aunt visits from another state for two weeks. During her stay, she's a nonresident of your town because she lives elsewhere.

The word matters most in official contexts. States charge nonresident fees for fishing licenses or state park passes because you don't pay taxes there. Colleges often charge higher tuition to nonresident students who come from other states. When you cross international borders, customs forms ask whether you're a resident or nonresident to determine what rules apply.

The opposite is resident, someone who lives in a place permanently or for an extended period. Notice that nonresident isn't about whether you're physically present right now. It's about where your actual home is. You can be a nonresident even while standing in a place, because home is somewhere else.