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

Even the internal control board is covered, plunging the craft's occupants into total darkness.

From Barron's

ICE officers can stop a car and order the occupants out if they have reasonable suspicion that the people inside have violated immigration law.

From The Wall Street Journal

You and your husband have gone from wanting to sell this house to actually chaining yourself to the house and the future occupants.

From MarketWatch

Only one of the passengers has been accounted for - the "status and whereabouts of the other occupants remain unconfirmed", the municipality said in a statement.

From BBC

The local authority confirmed the occupants of around 50 cars had stayed in the shrine building, and said no one had fallen ill.

From BBC

Related Words

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