occupancy

American  

[ok-yuh-puhn-see] / ˈɒk yə pən si /

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.

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occupancy British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• unoccupancy
  noun

Etymology

Origin of occupancy

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

Explanation

Occupancy is the act of owning, renting, or taking possession of a building. When you and your family move into a new house, you are taking occupancy of that home. You're probably most familiar with the word occupancy from signs in auditoriums and concert halls that state the room's "maximum occupancy." A maximum occupancy of 100 means only 100 people can safely fit inside that room at one time. A single-occupancy hotel room is meant for one person. The opposite of occupancy is vacancy––when no one is in possession. Hotels let you know when they have a vacancy by flashing a sign.

Example Sentences

“However, these documents also offer flexibility, allowing you to cease occupancy or sell the home before the 12-month period if you have a valid reason that your lender approves.”

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Airbnb has collected and paid the city more than $370 million in transient occupancy taxes over the last decade, a company spokesperson said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

But Starr says the most data from t REITs, which control about 30 percent of the industry and are subject to quarterly reporting requirements, shows occupancy increasing for the first time, year-to-year, since 2021.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

"Lower occupancy improves flow, and with that the patient experience," Roland said.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

On the immediate local front, reports showed that rental rates for apartments in Odessa had dropped 10 percent and occupancy rates 8 percent, boding disaster for a market that was woefully overbuilt from the boom.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Related Words

• ownership