inhabitant

noun

in·​hab·​i·​tant in-ˈha-bə-tənt How to pronounce inhabitant (audio)
Synonyms of inhabitantnext
: one that occupies a particular place regularly, routinely, or for a period of time
inhabitants of large cities
the tapeworm is an inhabitant of the intestine

Examples of inhabitant in a Sentence

the inhabitants of the town don't like the tourists
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But there are some plus sides, such as the bunker’s inhabitants still being able to dance to yacht rock. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 10 Jan. 2026 And so Lagos remains a vortex of energy, pulling in the aspiring and the curious, while somehow sustaining its longtime inhabitants. Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026 Ancient petroglyphs of human figures and cryptic symbols thought to have been scrawled by the Taino, the islands’ pre-Columbian inhabitants, appeared under our flashlight beams. Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026 In it, Oldham costumes up as a shaggy woodland monster, which—after a more nimble inhabitant seemingly swaps into the outfit—proceeds to engage a human in an elaborate dance routine. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inhabitant

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inhabitant was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Inhabitant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhabitant. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

inhabitant

noun
in·​hab·​it·​ant
in-ˈhab-ət-ənt
: one who lives permanently in a place

More from Merriam-Webster on inhabitant

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