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

There, occupants will note that the Kia Carnival is a people-first design, offering seating for seven or eight passengers (the second-row seats are removable, while the third-row seats fold away into a deep well in the rear). —Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

Police said Alameda County firefighters had to use hydraulic tools to extricate the two occupants of the Jetta. —Harry Harris, Mercury News, 26 May 2026

The trooper held the occupants of the car at gunpoint until backup arrived. —Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 26 May 2026

The occupants of the houses received clear user manuals to that effect. —Stefan Ionescu may 26, New Atlas, 26 May 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