inhabitant

[ in-hab-i-tuhnt ]

noun

1. a person or animal that inhabits a place, especially as a permanent resident.

   Synonyms: dweller, denizen

inhabitant

/ ɪnˈhæbɪtənt /

noun

1. a person or animal that is a permanent resident of a particular place or region

Derived Forms

• inˈhabitancy, noun

Other Words From

• prein·habit·ant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inhabitant¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin inhabitant- (stem of inhabitāns ) dwelling in. See inhabit, -ant

Example Sentences

Contestants range in age from 27 to 38 — much older than your typical inhabitant of the “Love Island” villa, and even a few years older, on average, than American “Love Is Blind” contestants, who have been as young as 24.

From Los Angeles Times

By the end of the month of August he knew he was an inhabitant of the island, whether he liked it or not.

From Literature

Clark, invited to D.J. the venue’s grand reopening party, was the room’s first inhabitant since a major renovation restored the former movie palace; a pristine, new-car smell lingered.

From New York Times

The only inhabitant is a solitary security guard waving away any curious onlookers.

From BBC

The reluctant but overwhelmed prophet Isaiah reported that God would punish the Israelite elites’ arrogance by destroying their Zion "until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the Lord has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken."

From Salon

Related Words

• citizen
• colonist
• dweller
• inmate
• occupant
• settler