occupant

noun

oc·​cu·​pant ˈä-kyə-pənt How to pronounce occupant (audio)
Synonyms of occupantnext
1
: one who acquires title by occupancy
2
: one who occupies a particular place
especially : resident

Synonyms of occupant

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This can be experienced if a lift or airplane falls freely and the occupants experience weightlessness. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026 Harley was the sole occupant of the home, and no one else was inside when officers arrived, police said. — Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 2 Sep. 2026 And so, once again, what about the current occupant of the White House? — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2026 The Oklahoma City Fire Department reported no injuries to any occupants of the building or to firefighters at the scene. — Jessie Christopher Smith, Oklahoman, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for occupant

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of occupant was in 1578

Browse Nearby Words

occupancy
occupant
occupation
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Cite this Entry

“Occupant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occupant. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

occupant

noun
oc·​cu·​pant ˈäk-yə-pənt How to pronounce occupant (audio)
: a person who occupies something
especially : resident entry 2 sense 1

Legal Definition

occupant

noun
oc·​cu·​pant ˈä-kyə-pənt How to pronounce occupant (audio)
1
: one who occupies a particular place
an occupant of the car
the occupant of the apartment
2
: one who acquires title by occupancy
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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