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

Meanwhile, firefighters searched for possible occupants inside the structure before it was deemed all clear. —Hunter Geisel, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025

Nissan also mentions that the driver and front passenger seats can be installed atop an RV-style swivel base so that the two frontmost occupants can swing around to face one or two rows of rear occupants when parked. —New Atlas, 12 Dec. 2025

There was no one inside the restaurant during the fire, and all occupants of the residence attached to Bass Bay Brewhouse were safely evacuated, police said. —Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 12 Dec. 2025

The potential identity of this new occupant has already got UK industry folk talking. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 Dec. 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