Inhabitant Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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inhabitant

[ษชnหˆhรฆb.ษช.tษ™nt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

resident

A person or animal that lives in or occupies a place.

Synonyms

dweller, occupant, resident.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
inhabitant

Use this word to generally refer to people or animals living in a specific place. Suitable for both large and small regions, or even non-residential places.

  • The inhabitants of the forest include deer, rabbits, and many birds.
  • In ancient times, Rome had millions of inhabitants.
resident

Commonly used to refer to people living in a specific area, like a neighborhood, city, or country. Often used in formal or administrative contexts, like legal documentation or official addresses.

  • All residents are invited to the town hall meeting.
  • The hotel's policy requires residents to check out by noon.
dweller

Appropriate for describing someone who lives in a certain type of place, often used with specific environments like 'city', 'cave', 'forest', etc. It sometimes implies a lifestyle or habitat.

  • Urban dwellers often face higher pollution levels.
  • Cave dwellers have unique adaptations to living without sunlight.
occupant

Often used to describe someone who is currently inhabiting a space, such as a house, room, or vehicle. This term can be temporary or permanent and might imply legal or formal habitation.

  • The previous occupants left the apartment in excellent condition.
  • All occupants must evacuate the building during a fire drill.

Examples of usage

  • He is an inhabitant of the small town.
  • The island's only inhabitants are birds.
  • The forest has a diverse range of inhabitants.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'inhabitant'

The word 'inhabitant' originated from the Latin word 'inhabitare', which means 'to dwell in'. It has been used in the English language since the 15th century. Over the centuries, 'inhabitant' has been commonly used to refer to both people and animals that reside in a particular place.


See also: inhabitants, inhabited, uninhabited.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,058, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.