Meaning & use
nondomestic
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Not belonging to or coming from the home or family; not domestic.
Grammar: Used before a noun: nondomestic animals, nondomestic settings.
Patterns
- nondomestic something
The shelter cares for both domestic and nondomestic animals.
Nondomestic workers often have different visa requirements.
The study compared domestic and nondomestic energy use.
adjectivebefore a nounbusiness
Not of or relating to a particular country; foreign or international.
Grammar: Used before a noun, especially in business or legal contexts.
Patterns
- nondomestic market
- nondomestic trade
The company expanded into nondomestic markets last year.
Nondomestic trade agreements can be complex.
They focus on nondomestic customers to grow revenue.
Common combinations
- nondomestic animal
- Nondomestic animals may require special permits.
- nondomestic market
- The firm entered several nondomestic markets.
- nondomestic use
- The device is for nondomestic use only.
- nondomestic setting
- Children in nondomestic settings often need extra support.
Synonyms and how they differ
- foreign
- Often used for countries or goods from other countries; nondomestic is broader and can also mean not related to the home.
- wild
- Describes animals or plants living in nature; nondomestic simply means not domestic, which can include wild but also captive non-domesticated species.
Opposites
Word family
- domestic adjective
- Relating to the home or family; also relating to one's own country.
- domesticated adjective
- Tamed or adapted for human use, especially of animals.
Commonly confused: nondomestic or nondomesticated?
nondomestic vs nondomesticated
Nondomesticated means not tamed, while nondomestic means not related to the home or not domestic in a broader sense.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'nondomestic' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Nondomestic is used before a noun to mean not domestic, so 'nondomestic species' fits. The other options use it incorrectly: a cat on a sofa is domestic, milk from a local shop is domestic, and a person who loves cooking is not described by nondomestic.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “nondomestic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.