occupancy

noun

oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈä-kyə-pən(t)-sē 

plural occupancies

1

: the fact or condition of holding, possessing, or residing in or on something

occupancy of the estate

2

: the act or fact of taking or having possession (as of unowned land) to acquire ownership

3

: the fact or condition of being occupied

occupancy by more than 400 persons is unlawful

4

: the use to which a property is put

industrial occupancy

5

: a building or part of a building intended to be occupied (as by a tenant)

Synonyms

• habitation
• occupation
• possession
• residency

Examples of occupancy in a Sentence

The sign above the auditorium door says, “Maximum occupancy: 500 persons.”

the landlord notified us of the need to cease occupancy in three months, when our apartment building would be sold

Recent Examples on the Web

The company has leaned into the new work-from-home dynamic, which has fueled its center occupancy rates to 71%, above pre-Covid levels of 69%, Tong noted. —Pia Singh, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024

But with looming uncertainty, the landlord chose certainty of occupancy over a speculative holdout for higher rents. —Allen Buchanan, Orange County Register, 26 Oct. 2024

The office stated that, with remnants of the unfinished project still left on site, Beg was using the premises without a valid occupancy certificate. —Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2024

As of April, Bahia Principe boasted an 85% occupancy rate in the global market, significantly exceeding the 69% average. —Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

occup(ant) + -ancy

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing occupancy

• double occupancy
• maximum occupancy

Kids Definition

occupancy

noun

oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈäk-yə-pən-sē 

plural occupancies

1

: the act or condition of occupying or taking possession

takes occupancy on the first of the month

2

: the state of being occupied

an occupancy limit of 5 persons

Legal Definition

occupancy

noun

oc·​cu·​pan·​cy ˈä-kyə-pən-sē 

plural occupancies

1

: the fact or condition of holding, possessing, or residing in or on something

occupancy of the premises

2

: the act or fact of taking or having possession (as of abandoned property) to acquire ownership

3

: the fact or condition of being occupied

occupancy by more than 400 persons is unlawful

4

: the use to which a property is put

designed for industrial occupancy