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 chase continued for several minutes until Judon crashed into a Ford sedan near the intersection of Garey Avenue and County Road, killing both of the vehicle's occupants. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026

The state attorney general’s job was open in 2010 because the then-occupant, Bill McCollum, was leaving to run for governor. —Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026

The building’s name comes from its original occupant, the Hale Brothers Department Store, originally built in 1881. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026

Eighty-four men and three women have held the job since then; the most recent occupant, Pam Bondi, who was fired on Thursday, would face some competition for the title of worst Attorney General. —Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 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