inhabitant

[in-hab-i-tuhnt]

noun

1. a person or animal that inhabits a place, especially as a permanent resident.

   Synonyms: denizen, dweller

inhabitant

/ ɪnˈhæbɪtənt /

noun

1. a person or animal that is a permanent resident of a particular place or region

Other Word Forms

• inhabitancy noun
• preinhabitant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inhabitant¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin inhabitant- (stem of inhabitāns ) dwelling in. See inhabit, -ant

Example Sentences

Smith said there were roughly 150 inhabitants at the ranch when he moved in.

From Los Angeles Times

Researchers at Madurai Kamaraj University are now extracting DNA from human bones and other goods found in these urns to better understand who the inhabitants of Keeladi were and what their lifestyle was like.

From BBC

In the early 20th century it was widely thought that there was intelligent life on Mars, and that we actually knew something about the inhabitants.

From Los Angeles Times

Jeunet has modeled the film on the ’30s pictures where each Parisian neighborhood is a small village and all the inhabitants know each other.

From Salon

He also aimed to design a “happy building,” both for its inhabitants and passersby.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• citizen 
• colonist 
• dweller 
• inmate 
• occupant 
• settler