occupancy

noun

oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈä-kyə-pən(t)-sē 

plural occupancies

1

: the fact or condition of holding, possessing, or residing in or on something

occupancy of the estate

2

: the act or fact of taking or having possession (as of unowned land) to acquire ownership

3

: the fact or condition of being occupied

occupancy by more than 400 persons is unlawful

4

: the use to which a property is put

industrial occupancy

5

: a building or part of a building intended to be occupied (as by a tenant)

Synonyms

• habitation
• occupation
• possession
• residency

Examples of occupancy in a Sentence

The sign above the auditorium door says, “Maximum occupancy: 500 persons.”

the landlord notified us of the need to cease occupancy in three months, when our apartment building would be sold

Recent Examples on the Web

However, those expenses would almost always be offset by rents received in the first few months of occupancy. —Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025

The allegations stem from a certificate of occupancy from the New York City Department of Buildings, dated January 26, 2001, which states that the building has dwellings for five families—one in the basement, one on the first floor, one on the second floor, and two on the third floor. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

Economists James Hamilton, UC San Diego NO: Right after the measure came up for a vote in 2020, hotel occupancy crashed. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025

Cost of goods sold, including occupancy and distribution costs, was $8.62 billion, representing 64.1% of net sales, compared to 65.08% in the previous year. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

occup(ant) + -ancy

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing occupancy

• double occupancy
• maximum occupancy

Kids Definition

occupancy

noun

oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈäk-yə-pən-sē 

plural occupancies

1

: the act or condition of occupying or taking possession

takes occupancy on the first of the month

2

: the state of being occupied

an occupancy limit of 5 persons

Legal Definition

occupancy

noun

oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈä-kyə-pən-sē 

plural occupancies

1

: the fact or condition of holding, possessing, or residing in or on something

occupancy of the premises

2

: the act or fact of taking or having possession (as of abandoned property) to acquire ownership

3

: the fact or condition of being occupied

occupancy by more than 400 persons is unlawful

4

: the use to which a property is put

designed for industrial occupancy