Occupant
ˈɒkjʊpənt
Definitions
A person or thing that resides in or has possession of a place or position.
ˈɒkjʊpənt
A person or thing that occupies a place.
The occupants of the house were unharmed during the storm.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone's living in a house, sitting in a car, or maybe even taking up a seat on the bus. That person? They're the occupant! Occupant is just a fancy way of saying, like, the person who *occupies* the space.
👶 For kids: Someone who lives in a house or sits in a seat is called an occupant.
More Examples
The car's sole occupant survived the crash.
The building's occupants were evacuated due to a gas leak.
How It's Used
"The occupants of the apartment building were notified of the fire alarm."
"The legal documents specified the occupant's rights and responsibilities."
From Middle French *occupant*, from Latin *occupans*, present participle of *occupāre* 'to occupy'.
The word has been used in various contexts since the 17th century, initially referring to someone who holds land by tenure.
Memory tip
Think of someone *occupying* a seat or a house – they're the occupant.