A residency is a period of time when someone lives in a particular place, or when they're required to live somewhere as part of their training or work.

Doctors complete a residency after medical school, spending several years working in a hospital under the supervision of experienced physicians. During this time, they're called residents because they practically live at the hospital, sometimes working incredibly long shifts while learning to diagnose illnesses, perform procedures, and care for patients. A surgical resident might spend five or more years training, while a family medicine resident typically completes three years.

The word also describes the legal status of living somewhere. To vote in an election, you need to establish residency in that city or state, meaning you actually live there and can prove it. Schools check residency requirements to determine which students can attend. Some jobs require residency in a specific area: a sheriff must maintain residency in the county they serve.

An artist residency provides a place for painters, writers, or other creative people to live and work for weeks or months, often free from their usual responsibilities. A residency requirement is a rule about how long someone must live somewhere before they qualify for something, like in-state college tuition.