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

Officers said the two occupants of the car, thought to be a man and a woman, subsequently fled the scene on foot.

From BBC

The Peugeot driver was taken to hospital and the four female occupants of the Toyota were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

From BBC

Social media users voiced concern and disgust that she didn’t tell the airline what had happened so they could disinfect the seat for the next occupant.

From Los Angeles Times

It would make less financial sense for developers to replace existing rent-stabilized housing, and some builders would instead choose to build in single-family areas where they’d demolish houses an occupant has chosen to sell.

From Los Angeles Times

President-elect Donald Trump has given two wealthy entrepreneurs a mission that has eluded many other occupants of the White House: Make the U.S. government smaller and more efficient.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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