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.
The remaining occupant, a 19-year-old from Eaton, suffered minor injuries in the crash. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 30 July 2026 Jose Manuel Lopez, 44, a Mexican national and the truck's sole occupant, was arrested and charged with importing cocaine into the United States. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 As the four occupants got out of the vehicle for the search, Anguis and Ayala fled the area on foot, prosecutors said. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026 One of the occupants, 19-year-old Jesaun Benson-Garrett, of Antioch, was struck and killed while checking on the well-being of the people in the other car, according to a GoFundMe in his his memory. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 July 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 4 Aug. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on occupant

Nglish: Translation of occupant for Spanish Speakers

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