Household vs Residence

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Household

Top 2,000 (common) B2 noun

Residence

Top 3,000 (common) C1 noun

Most common: Household

	Household	Residence
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈhaʊshəʊld/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈhaʊshəʊld/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈrezɪdəns/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈrezɪdəns/"]/
Meaning	A group of people living together in a home.	A place where someone lives.
Example	Everyone in the household contributes to the chores.	They recently moved into a new residence near the beach.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	C1
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	average, domestic, private, maintain, manage, run, appliance, contents, furniture, the head of the household	desirable, palatial, official, build, maintain, change, long, permanent, temporary, establish, take up, permit, hall, in residence, a change of residence, somebody’s city of residence, somebody’s country of residence, long, permanent, temporary, establish, take up, permit, hall, in residence, a change of residence, somebody’s city of residence, somebody’s country of residence
Antonyms	institution, public space	transience, temporary lodging
Common mistakes	Confused with 'house'—'household' refers to the people, whereas 'house' refers to the building., 'Household' is singular, don't use 'households' when referring to one group., Using 'household' as a verb, when it is only a noun.	Using 'residence' incorrectly as a verb, Confusing it with 'residential', which describes areas not specific to an individual's home, Overusing in casual speech when simpler words would fit better
Usage notes	Commonly used to refer to families or individuals sharing a living space. Avoid using in very formal or academic writing without clarification.	Used in formal contexts, such as legal documents or discussions about property. Less common in casual conversation; 'home' or 'house' might be preferred in those settings.

See it in real clips

Bubba-Gump Shrimp. It's a household name.

Household

And without a job, a residence or legal tender, that's what you're gonna be, man.

Agent Carter › S1 E1

Jarvis residence.

The Sopranos › S1 E1

- Ma... - This is a residence,

And without a job, a residence or legal tender, that's what you're gonna be, man.

Agent Carter › S1 E1

Jarvis residence.

Residence

Frequently asked questions: Household vs Residence

What's the difference between Household and Residence?

Household: A group of people living together in a home. Residence: A place where someone lives.

Which is more common: Household and Residence?

Household is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Household and Residence?

Residence is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Household and Residence the same CEFR level?

Household: B2, Residence: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Household and Residence?

Household: noun, Residence: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Household: Everyone in the household contributes to the chores. Residence: They recently moved into a new residence near the beach.

Can I use Household and Residence interchangeably?

Not always. Household and Residence are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.