occupancy

noun

oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈä-kyə-pən(t)-sē 

plural occupancies

1

: the fact or condition of holding, possessing, or residing in or on something

occupancy of the estate

The house is unsafe for human occupancy.

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

a single occupancy room

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)

Synonyms of occupancy

• occupation
• habitation
• residency

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

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has not yet produced records IndieWire requested concerning the theater’s recent permits, inspections, code enforcement, occupancy, and work required before reopening. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026

Water levels and tourism From July 2025 to July 2026, short-term rental occupancy fell by 10% in the nearby City of Page. — Swasti Singhai, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

In a 5-0 vote, supervisors directed staff to draft new ordinance language that would revise occupancy limits for vacation rentals, including changing a policy that currently counts children ages 6 and older toward a rental’s total occupancy. — Haley Parsley august 20, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Moore acknowledged that the appellants were asking for numerous kinds of documents, including the fire department’s occupancy study, building plans and traffic studies. — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

occup(ant) + -ancy

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing occupancy

• double occupancy
• high-occupancy vehicle
• maximum occupancy

Kids Definition

occupancy

noun

oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈäk-yə-pən-sē 

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 

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