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

• 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 four other occupants of the vehicle sustained nonfatal injuries and were treated on scene and at local hospitals, according to police. —Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 6 Sep. 2025

The three women died after a pontoon boat with seven occupants flipped over in the western Maine lake. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025

Paul suggested the drug boat’s occupants should have been given a chance to be tried for their crimes. —Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025

This system measures the body temperature of a seat’s occupant and adjusts that of the seat according to the temperature set on the climate system. —Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

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