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 Word Forms

• nonoccupant noun
• preoccupant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of occupant¹

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

Example Sentences

Multiple staircases in mid-rise apartments are meant to give occupants multiple means of escape.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In their statements, Indyke and Kahn said they weren’t aware of any abuse of the building’s occupants.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Art Deco buildings in Mumbai were, and still often are, hidden in plain sight, with even their occupants often blissfully unaware of their cultural moorings.

Read more on BBC

"We wanted to develop an innovative system that prevents occupants from inhaling contaminated air while allowing them to use a personalized ventilation system comfortably for extended periods," he says.

Read more on Science Daily

He said that the occupants were moved out at one point by teams he believed were from Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe program.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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