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

The vehicle immediately left after its occupants saw the officer, according to the department. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Here are trucks that can practically drive themselves down the highway, turn their cabin into a mobile office, and put more than 60 inches of digital displays in front of their occupants. — New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026

Its basement level, though, has a modern history all its own, where an improbable number of right-moment, right-time restaurants have operated since early last decade — including its latest, exceptionally thrilling occupant. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

His point was that there is no single profile of a property that can attract an unauthorized occupant. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 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