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 of occupant

• 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

Authorities said none of the occupants were wearing seat belts. — Doug Myers, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

Also injured in the crash was a 3-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy, both occupants of the 2008 Accord. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026

The car’s occupants were all 17-year-old boys, the Mesa County Coroner’s Office said. — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

But the systems recorded vehicles regardless of whether their occupants were suspected of wrongdoing, fueling concerns about the amount of information collected and who could search it. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026

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