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

Both front seats include programmable memory settings and four-way electric lumbar support, allowing occupants to fine-tune seating position and posture through the vehicle’s digital cabin controls. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026

Although the boat was equipped with lifejackets, officials said the occupants weren't wearing them. —Christa Swanson, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026

But perhaps just as important is that the Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented many policies to encourage owner-occupants in the market during the Biden administration. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026

Both occupants were located and detained by state trooper and the Bridgeport Police Department, Allard said. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 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