occupant

American  

[ok-yuh-puhnt] / ˈɒk yə pənt /

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.

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occupant British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• nonoccupant noun
• preoccupant noun

Etymology

Origin of occupant

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

Example Sentences

Police Scotland said inquires to trace the sole occupant of the boat were ongoing.

From BBC

Young was sympathetic to the idea that the province has to confront the ramifications of seizing land from the area’s original indigenous occupants.

From The Wall Street Journal

The most fleeting occupant of the Celtic manager's job in the club's storied history lasted eight months.

From BBC

He may live there for now, but his days as the current occupant are numbered.

From MarketWatch

The group made an important call to the U.S. military before they set out, warning American forces in the region of the vessel’s occupants.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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