Nonresidences

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Places or properties that are not occupied as a primary home or residence
2. Structures that serve purposes other than living quarters, such as commercial buildings or temporary accommodations
3. Locations that lack permanent inhabitants and are often used for specific functions rather than as dwelling spaces

Etymology: "Nonresidences" is the plural of "nonresidence," a formation built by attaching the prefix non- ("not") to "residence," which comes from Latin "residere," to sit back or remain behind. Adding non- produces a plain negation: a nonresidence is simply a place or arrangement that is not a residence, with no separate history of its own. The plural matters here because the noun is used for a whole category of buildings, from offices and shops to hotels and temporary lodgings, rather than for one particular structure. The word therefore works as a practical label for everything that is not somewhere people live, which is why it tends to appear in legal, planning, and tax contexts.

Synonyms: temporary homes, vacation homes, second homes

Antonyms: residences, homes