/ ˈɒkjəpənt; NAmE ˈɑːk-/ noun
1.
a person who lives or works in a particular house, room, building, etc. :
All outstanding bills will be paid by the previous occupants.
2.
a person who is in a vehicle, seat, etc. at a particular time :
The car was badly damaged but the occupants were unhurt.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in the legal sense person who establishes a title ): from French , or from Latin occupant- seizing, from the verb occupare .