domicile

American  

[dom-uh-sahyl, -suhl, doh-muh-] / ˈdɒm əˌsaɪl, -səl, ˈdoʊ mə- /

Or domicil

noun

1. a place of residence; house or home; abode.

2. Law. a permanent legal residence.

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verb (used with object)

domiciled, domiciling

1. to establish in a domicile.

domicile British  

/ ˈdɒmɪˌsaɪl, ˈdɒmɪˌsɪl /

noun

1. a dwelling place

2. a permanent legal residence

3. commerce the place where a bill of exchange is to be paid

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verb

1. to establish or be established in a dwelling place

Other Word Forms

• undomiciled adjective

Etymology

Origin of domicile

First recorded in 1470–80; from Middle French, from Latin domicilium, equivalent to domicol(a) ( domi-, combining form of domus “house” + -cola “dweller”; colonus ) + -ium -ium

Example Sentences

Wong Kim Ark “concerned children of aliens with a lawful domicile in the United States, not children of temporarily present aliens or illegal aliens.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Instead, he explicitly concluded that though Julia’s parents lacked any permanent domicile or “expectation of remaining” in the country, these facts did not prevent her from acquiring American citizenship by birth.

From Slate • Mar. 18, 2026

The company changed its name to Quantum Computing and domicile to Delaware from North Carolina in 2018.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

Instead, it’ll be “somewhere on the East Coast,” while Delaware will be the legal domicile.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 10, 2025

With an indignant squawk, Rose led the way into their new domicile, tempted by a trail of grain.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson