Definition
In the medical world, this is the grueling 3-7 year hazing ritual where freshly minted doctors work 80-hour weeks for poverty wages while being called 'doctor' but treated like very expensive interns. During this time, residents gain valuable experience in their specialty while surviving on vending machine food and questioning every life choice that led them here. It's basically a paid apprenticeship, if by 'paid' you mean earning less per hour than the hospital barista.
Example Usage
She's in her third year of neurosurgery residency, which explains why she hasn't slept since 2022 and why she cries when she sees sunlight.
Source: Medical education terminology
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See “residency” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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