occupancy

[ok-yuh-puhn-see]

noun

plural

occupancies 

1. the act, state, or condition of being or becoming a tenant or of living in or taking up quarters or space in or on something.

   Continued occupancy of the office depends on a rent reduction.

   Synonyms: possession, occupation, tenancy

2. the possession or tenancy of a property.

   You can have occupancy on June 1st.

3. the act of taking possession, as of a property.

4. the term during which one is an occupant.

5. the condition of being occupied.

   Occupancy of the auditorium is limited to 1200 people.

6. the use to which property is put.

7. exercise of dominion over property that has no owner so as to become the legal owner.

occupancy

/ ˈɒkjʊpənsɪ /

noun

1. the act of occupying; possession of a property

2. law the possession and use of property by or without agreement and without any claim to ownership

3. law the act of taking possession of unowned property, esp land, with the intent of thus acquiring ownership

4. the condition or fact of being an occupant, esp a tenant

5. the period of time during which one is an occupant, esp of property

Other Word Forms

• unoccupancy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of occupancy¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; occup(ant) + -ancy

Example Sentences

The company said customers knew about the occupancy condition when booking, and the company denies targeting or harming anyone, adding that it advised some clients not to sell homes to pay deposits.

Read more on BBC

Across all providers, the August data included 46 sites that had 0% occupancy — and 1,079 available beds — and nonprofits said at least some of those were for shelters that no longer existed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Finally, The Times summarized certificates of occupancy issued by day to plot the reconstruction timeline for each fire.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Her ‘public bathroom’ is single occupancy and comes with a security man standing guard outside the door,” the author added.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

What the pictures don't show is the wear-and-tear and the build-up of possessions that come from continuous occupancy over months and years.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ownership