private residence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "private residence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to any house or building that a private individual or family owns and lives in. For example, "The police had to get permission to enter the suspect's private residence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

house, a converted private residence.

The New Yorker

Now a private residence.

The New York Times

Barry Fried at his private residence.

The New York Times

Luckily, he also has a private residence in Katmandu, above.

The New York Times

It began as a private residence for Lord Stanhope.

The New York Times

The proposed process, called GEOSOL, has been installed in a 180 m2 private residence in 2004.

Applied Thermal Engineering

The majority of stroke patients (92%) were living in a private residence.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

There is no justification for this kind of attack on people in a private residence.

Independent

The Homestead was a private residence in 1963 when I was there.

The New York Times - Arts

The "fine limestone house" that he describes remains a private residence, but it is hardly "forgotten".

The New Yorker

The crowd gathered first at his office and later outside his private residence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "private residence" in formal writing or legal contexts when you need a precise term for a person's home. It avoids ambiguity and is widely understood.

Common error

While similar, "private residence" emphasizes the exclusive, non-public nature of the dwelling, while "personal residence" emphasizes the individual's connection to it. Choose the term that best fits the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "private residence" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and commonly used term to denote a personal dwelling. Examples in Ludwig show it used in legal, news, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "private residence" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that refers to a person's home, emphasizing its private nature. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for formal and legal contexts, news reports, and general descriptions where precision is required. While alternatives like "personal home" or "private dwelling" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. The phrase is very common in News & Media and Science contexts, but less so in casual conversation, where simpler terms are preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

private dwelling

A more formal and legalistic term for a home.

private dwelling place

Adds emphasis to the act of residing or living in the space.

domestic residence

Uses "domestic" to refer to the home environment.

personal home

Emphasizes the personal nature of the dwelling, rather than just its private aspect.

primary residence

Designates the main or official home of an individual or family.

personal accommodation

Focuses on the provision of shelter and living space for an individual.

own home

Simple and direct way to express ownership and residence.

family home

Highlights the familial aspect of the residence.

private household

Emphasizes the group of people living together in the residence.

private property

Highlights the ownership aspect more than the residential use.

FAQs

How can I use "private residence" in a sentence?

You can use "private residence" to describe a home in legal documents, news reports, or formal writing. For instance, "The police obtained a warrant to search the suspect's "private residence"".

What are some alternatives to "private residence"?

Alternatives include "personal home", "private dwelling", or "family home" depending on the context and the specific aspect you want to emphasize.

What is the difference between "private residence" and "personal residence"?

"Private residence" highlights the non-public nature of the home, while "personal residence" stresses the individual's connection to it. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing privacy or personal connection.

Is it correct to use "private residence" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "private residence" sounds formal for casual conversation. Terms like "home" or "house" are more common and appropriate in everyday contexts.