occupancy

noun

oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈä-kyə-pən(t)-sē How to pronounce occupancy (audio)
plural occupancies
1
: the fact or condition of holding, possessing, or residing in or on something
occupancy of the estate
2
: the act or fact of taking or having possession (as of unowned land) to acquire ownership
3
: the fact or condition of being occupied
occupancy by more than 400 persons is unlawful
4
: the use to which a property is put
industrial occupancy
5
: a building or part of a building intended to be occupied (as by a tenant)

Examples of occupancy in a Sentence

The sign above the auditorium door says, “Maximum occupancy: 500 persons.” the landlord notified us of the need to cease occupancy in three months, when our apartment building would be sold
Recent Examples on the Web Office occupancy rates have held flat at half-full in most major metro areas for over two years now, and 35% of workers in remote-capable jobs are working from home exclusively. Jane Thier, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023 All occupancy would be restricted according to age and income. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Nov. 2023 The building had yet to open because fire officials had cited safety issues and declined to sign off on its occupancy, the people said. Michael Rothfeld, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023 San Francisco has been dealing with many of the same issues that face other major metropolitan areas: a downtown with steep declines in office occupancy rates; a police department with a shortage of officers; inflation, large budget deficits and an economy that has led to layoffs. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023 The Chrysler fared better, opening in 1930 with over 70 percent occupancy by companies including Western Union and, of course, Chrysler, whose founder, Walter Chrysler, had purchased the lease on the lot, and Van Alen’s design, before construction began. Michael Snyder, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023 So, this is part of the rent-stabilization law that allows guests at single-room occupancy (SRO) hotels to become tenants, usually by living there continuously for six months or by staying there for one night and requesting a lease. Curbed, 29 Sep. 2023 Any increase in the transient occupancy tax, often called TOT, would have to be approved by Carlsbad voters. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2023 In the early 1970s, with New York City itself careening toward bankruptcy, the Chrysler’s occupancy rate reached a catastrophic low of 17 percent, and even after its 1978 inscription by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, the building kept slipping further into disrepair. Michael Snyder, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'occupancy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

occup(ant) + -ancy

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of occupancy was in 1629

Dictionary Entries Near occupancy

Cite this Entry

“Occupancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occupancy. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

occupancy

noun
oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈäk-yə-pən-sē How to pronounce occupancy (audio)
plural occupancies
1
: the act or condition of occupying or taking possession
takes occupancy on the first of the month
2
: the state of being occupied
an occupancy limit of 5 persons

Legal Definition

occupancy

noun
oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈä-kyə-pən-sē How to pronounce occupancy (audio)
plural occupancies
1
: the fact or condition of holding, possessing, or residing in or on something
occupancy of the premises
2
: the act or fact of taking or having possession (as of abandoned property) to acquire ownership
3
: the fact or condition of being occupied
occupancy by more than 400 persons is unlawful
4
: the use to which a property is put
designed for industrial occupancy

More from Merriam-Webster on occupancy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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