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

Five people were killed, all occupants of a van owned by a contract cleaning company for airlines and another vehicle, authorities previously said. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Ridoel Averhoff Diaz, 32, an occupant of the van, and Eugenio Corredor, 79, who was in the other vehicle, were in critical condition, the sheriff’s office said. — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

The Santa Clara Police Department said in a press release on Wednesday that a patrol officer observed a violation involving a vehicle with two occupants and conducted a traffic stop. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

The unidentified driver, who was the sole occupant of the GMC, was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, DPS said. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 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