n.1 a person who occupies, resides in, or is in a place etc. (both occupants of the car were unhurt).
2 a person holding property, esp. land, in actual possession.
3 a person who establishes a title by taking possession of something previously without an established owner.
Derivatives:
occupancy n. (pl. -ies).
Etymology: F occupant or L occupans -antis (as OCCUPY)