I. do ‧ mes ‧ tic 1 W2 AC /dəˈmestɪk/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: adverb : ↑ domestically ; adjective : ↑ domestic ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: domestique , from Latin domesticus , from domus 'house' ]
1 . relating to or happening in one particular country and not involving any other countries ⇨ foreign
domestic market/economy/demand etc
the booming domestic economy
US foreign and domestic policy
our nation’s domestic affairs
Domestic flights (=flights that stay inside a particular country) go from Terminal 1.
2 . [only before noun] relating to family relationships and life at home:
Unfortunately his domestic life wasn’t very happy.
domestic tasks/chores/responsibilities etc
Nowadays there is more sharing of domestic chores.
families that can afford domestic help (=help with cleaning, washing etc)
an organization that supports women facing domestic violence (=violence in a family, especially from a husband to his wife)
3 . used in people’s homes:
a new tax on domestic fuel
domestic appliances such as washing machines
4 . someone who is domestic enjoys spending time at home and is good at cooking, cleaning etc:
No, I’m not very domestic.
5 . [only before noun] a domestic animal lives on a farm or in someone’s home OPP wild :
domestic pets
—domestically /-kli/ adverb :
domestically produced coal
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ nouns
▪ the domestic market (=buying of goods inside a country)
The French domestic market is the largest consumer of champagne.
▪ the domestic economy (=production of goods and profit from sales inside a country)
Japan’s domestic economy expanded greatly during this period.
▪ domestic policy (=policy relating to your own country)
The President’s foreign and domestic policies have been criticized.
▪ domestic affairs (=public and political events inside a country)
Colombia rejected any interference in its domestic affairs.
▪ domestic demand (=the amount of a product that people want to buy in a country)
Exports fell by 0.5 percent while domestic demand grew.
▪ domestic consumption (=the amount of a product that people use in a country)
In the past the country’s industry was small enough to thrive on domestic consumption alone.
▪ domestic flights (=that stay inside a country)
London’s airports handle one hundred thousand domestic flights a year.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ nouns
▪ domestic life
She enjoyed domestic life and bringing up three children.
▪ domestic tasks (=small jobs at home such as cleaning and washing)
How many hours do you spend on domestic tasks each week?
▪ domestic chores (=boring tasks around the home)
Many people find domestic chores very tedious.
▪ domestic responsibilities
It can be hard to balance your work and your domestic responsibilities.
▪ domestic problems (=problems in the home and with family relationships)
I didn’t want to listen to any more of his domestic problems.
▪ a domestic dispute (=an argument between people who live together, especially when it involves violence)
Police are often called to domestic disputes.
▪ domestic violence/abuse (=in a family, especially by a husband towards his wife)
The organization supports women who are victims of domestic violence.
▪ domestic waste (=food, paper, glass etc that you throw out from the house)
More domestic waste needs to be recycled.
▪ domestic help (=help with cleaning, washing etc)
People in well-paid jobs can afford domestic help.
▪ domestic service formal (=the work of a servant in a large house)
She went into domestic service at the age of 15.
II. domestic 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . old-fashioned a servant who works in a large house
2 . British English informal a fight between members of a family in their home:
It sounded like the neighbours were having a bit of a domestic.