occupant

[ ok-yuh-puhnt ]

noun

1. a person, family, group, or organization that lives in, occupies, or has quarters or space in or on something:

   the occupant of a taxicab; the occupants of the building.

2. a tenant of a house, estate, office, etc.; resident.
3. Law.
   1. an owner through occupancy.
   2. one who is in actual possession.

occupant

/ ˈɒkjʊpənt /

noun

1. a person, thing, etc, holding a position or place
2. law a person who has possession of something, esp an estate, house, etc; tenant
3. law a person who acquires by occupancy the title to something previously without an owner

Other Words From

• non·occu·pant noun
• pre·occu·pant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of occupant¹

1590–1600; < Middle French occupant, present participle of occuper. See occupy, -ant

Example Sentences

The court then issued guidelines, which make it mandatory for authorities to give a 15-day notice to an occupant before the alleged illegal property is demolished.

From BBC

Although voters are anxious for the election to be over, unless polling that shows an incredibly tight election is wrong, it’s unlikely that the nation will know who the next occupant of the White House is Tuesday night after the polls close.

From Los Angeles Times

During cross-examination, lead prosecutor Tom Little KC told the defendant: "Your intention must have been to have killed the occupant of the vehicle."

From BBC

This important position, the most senior within Sir Keir's private office, has been unfilled since the departure of previous occupant Elizabeth Perelman, amid reports of tensions over who should replace her.

From BBC

There is no end of put-downs that attach to the job of vice president, a position that’s widely treated as irrelevant when its occupant is not ignored altogether.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• denizen
• dweller
• holder
• incumbent
• inhabitant
• renter
• resident
• tenant