occupant

noun

oc·​cu·​pant ˈä-kyə-pənt 

1

: one who acquires title by occupancy

2

: one who occupies a particular place

especially : resident

Synonyms

• denizen
• dweller
• habitant
• inhabitant
• inhabiter
• resident
• resider
• tenant

Examples of occupant in a Sentence

The apartment's previous occupant was a painter.

Both of the car's occupants were injured.

Recent Examples on the Web

The van got stuck on a sand berm and its two occupants ran off, investigators said. —Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2025

The officer was in full uniform and was driving a pickup truck when shots were fired by both the officer and one of the occupants of a sedan, police said in a news release. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2025

Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images The company said a loose seatbelt or buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. —Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2025

None of the vehicle occupants reported being injured. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, from present participle of occuper "to occupy"

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

occupant

noun

oc·​cu·​pant ˈäk-yə-pənt 

: a person who occupies something

especially : resident entry 2 sense 1

Legal Definition

occupant

noun

oc·​cu·​pant ˈä-kyə-pənt 

1

: one who occupies a particular place

an occupant of the car

the occupant of the apartment

2

: one who acquires title by occupancy