domestic
/dəˈmes.tɪk/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Relating to home, family, or life inside a country. It can also mean made or used in a person's own country, not imported.
- She works in domestic sales.
- Domestic travel is cheaper this season.
- We need more support for domestic workers.
noun
A domestic worker, especially someone who does cleaning or housework. This use is less common and can sound old-fashioned in some places.
- The family hired a domestic.
- Her aunt worked as a domestic.
- The hotel provided food for the domestics.
Adinary Nuance
Use domestic when you mean something connected with the home or with your own country. It is more specific than home and more formal than everyday words like household in some contexts. In business and news writing, domestic often means 'inside the country,' as in domestic flights or domestic demand.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nội địa
- Spanish
- doméstico
- Chinese
- 国内的
- Japanese
- 国内の
- Korean
- 국내의
Etymology
From Latin domesticus, from domus meaning 'house'. The word entered English through Old French in the Middle English period.
Common phrases
domestic affairsdomestic violencedomestic flightdomestic market
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'domestic' formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal and common in news, business, and academic writing.
- What is the difference between 'domestic' and 'local'?
- 'Domestic' often means within your own country. 'Local' usually means near a place or in the same area.
- Can I use 'domestic' for a person?
- Yes, but usually as a noun for a domestic worker. It is not a common everyday word.
- What does 'domestic flight' mean?
- It means a flight within the same country, not an international flight.