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

By testing seasonal changes, different numbers of occupants, and how people behave in offices, the researchers showed that the model can reliably identify more efficient and comfortable configurations, giving designers a much clearer basis for choosing the best energy-saving options. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026

The occupants — two adults, two children and a dog — were able to exit before firefighters arrived, Anaszewicz said. —Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026

Brewster was not a subsequent occupant retrofitting someone else’s floor plan. —Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026

One person died, and all 32 of the bus's other occupants were taken to Iowa hospitals for evaluation. —Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 12 Feb. 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