inhabitant
/ɪnˈhæ.bɪ.tənt/
Describes a person or animal that lives permanently in a specific place. It carries a neutral, clinical tone, often used in census data, scientific reports, or formal descriptions of geography. Unlike 'resident', which often implies a legal status or a choice of dwelling (like an apartment), 'inhabitant' emphasizes the physical act of occupying a space or region. It suggests a more biological or spatial relationship to the environment. When used for humans, it can feel slightly detached or objective, as if viewing the population from an outside perspective. When applied to animals, it is the standard term for species native to a particular ecosystem.
Countable because it refers to individual beings who reside in a place, such as counting the number of inhabitants in a city.
💬Casual Conversation
Regarding the fourth floor re-design, who are the key inhabitants we're optimizing for?
We're looking at agile teams, Victoria. Focusing on a flexible, open-plan paradigm.
Meanings
Collocations & Compounds
native inhabitant
A person or animal that has lived in a particular place for a long time, since birth or from the earliest times.
The native inhabitant of the island protested against the new development.
local inhabitant
A person or animal that lives in a particular area or neighborhood.
The local inhabitant welcomed the tourists with open arms.
human inhabitant
A person living in a particular place.
The human inhabitant of this region has a rich cultural history.
former inhabitant
A person or animal that used to live in a particular place.
The former inhabitant of the house left many of their belongings behind.
sole inhabitant
The only person or animal living in a particular place.
The lighthouse keeper was the sole inhabitant of the remote island.