inhabitant

American  

[in-hab-i-tuhnt] / ɪnˈhæb ɪ tənt /

noun

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

   Synonyms:

   denizen, dweller

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inhabitant British  

/ ɪnˈhæbɪtənt /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• inhabitancy noun
• preinhabitant noun

Etymology

Origin of inhabitant

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

Example Sentences

When Britain abolished slavery, many of the local inhabitants stayed on, numbering in the low thousands across several islands.

From The Wall Street Journal

This universe is often at war with itself, and its inhabitants at war with each other, over the accuracy of their personal experiences.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rather than scrolling, people are reading of the mist that obscures Yorkshire moors and its inhabitants’ judgments.

From Los Angeles Times

The fluffy inhabitant also helps to entice customers.

From Barron's

The island of 9.6 million inhabitants, under a US trade embargo since 1962, has for years been mired in a severe economic crisis marked by extended power cuts and shortages of fuel, medicine and food.

From Barron's

Related Words

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