inhabitant

noun

in·​hab·​i·​tant in-ˈha-bə-tənt How to pronounce inhabitant (audio)
: one that occupies a particular place regularly, routinely, or for a period of time
inhabitants of large cities
the tapeworm is an inhabitant of the intestine

Examples of inhabitant in a Sentence

the inhabitants of the town don't like the tourists
Recent Examples on the Web But this will enjoyable for anyone interested in the history of San Francisco and its colorful inhabitants. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 Many of the Amazon’s 40 million human inhabitants may be displaced by unbearable heat, and Indigenous peoples in particular would lose their livelihoods, ways of life, and knowledge systems. Quentin Septer, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 Living on land that has seen multiple generations of inhabitants creates another pressing question for Raboteau, whose book of connected essays is about moving through our new 2020s reality as a mother. Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 In places including Mexico, the Andes and Iberia, ancient inhabitants sprayed the pigment on graves and corpses, which rendered them stunning red and slowed the bodies’ decomposition. Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 There are only about 50 inhabitants in the immediate area so expect utter solitude in between unique excursions. Jillian Dara, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 What's not to love about Oriental, a town with more than three times as many boats as year-round inhabitants? Tracey Minkin, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024 Portofino, a village of some 400 inhabitants, has, at times, become so inundated that local officials initiated selfie fines. Catherine Sabino, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Should architecture seek first to beautify its site or to efficiently serve its inhabitants, and which of those objectives is more ecologically ideal? Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inhabitant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inhabitant was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near inhabitant

Cite this Entry

“Inhabitant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhabitant. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inhabitant

noun
in·​hab·​it·​ant
in-ˈhab-ət-ənt
: one who lives permanently in a place

More from Merriam-Webster on inhabitant

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