occupant

noun

oc·​cu·​pant ˈä-kyə-pənt 

1

: one who acquires title by occupancy

2

: one who occupies a particular place

especially : resident

Synonyms

• inhabitant
• resident
• tenant
• resider

Examples of occupant in a Sentence

The apartment's previous occupant was a painter.

Both of the car's occupants were injured.

Recent Examples on the Web

His politics may explain Whitehouse’s general opposition to the current occupant of the White House, though not necessarily the invective. —Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

But customers are hoping the building’s new occupants will revive this drinking spot. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025

Under the state's Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decal, single-occupant low- and zero-emission vehicles—including many hybrid and fully electric cars—were able to access high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

This was bad news for its human occupants, Jack and Janet Smurl along with their four daughters and his parents. —Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, from present participle of occuper "to occupy"

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

occupant

noun

oc·​cu·​pant ˈäk-yə-pənt 

: a person who occupies something

especially : resident entry 2 sense 1

Legal Definition

occupant

noun

oc·​cu·​pant ˈä-kyə-pənt 

1

: one who occupies a particular place

an occupant of the car

the occupant of the apartment

2

: one who acquires title by occupancy