inhabitant
/in'hæbitənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun A person, animal, or (less commonly) plant that lives in or occupies a particular place permanently or habitually.
Usage
The word "inhabitant" is used to describe a resident of a specific location, such as a city, country, building, or region. It is a formal or neutral term.
Examples
- The inhabitants of the small island rely on fishing.
- According to the census, the city has over a million inhabitants.
- The local inhabitants were very friendly to tourists.
- The forest's animal inhabitants include deer and foxes.
Advanced Usage
- "Inhabitant" vs. "Resident": While often interchangeable, "inhabitant" can have a broader, more ecological or demographic sense (e.g., "inhabitants of a forest"), whereas "resident" often implies a more formal, legal, or community-based status (e.g., "a resident of the state").
- Figurative Use: It can be used figuratively for non-living things that seem to occupy a space.
- Example: "Dust and memories were the only inhabitants of the old house."
Variants and Related Words
- Inhabit (verb): To live in or occupy a place.
- Example: "Various tribes inhabit the region."
- Inhabitable (adjective): Suitable to be lived in.
- Example: "The house was made inhabitable after the repairs."
- Uninhabited (adjective): Having no inhabitants.
- Example: "They discovered an uninhabited island."
Synonyms
- Resident: A person who lives somewhere permanently.
- Dweller: A person or animal that lives in a specified place (often used in compounds: city-dweller, cave-dweller).
- Occupant: A person who resides or is present in a house, vehicle, or seat.
- Denizen: An inhabitant or occupant of a particular place (can be formal or literary, and also applies to animals/plants).
Antonyms
- Visitor
- Tourist
- Transient
Related Phrases
- Native inhabitant: A person born in a particular place.
- Example: "The native inhabitants have a deep understanding of the local ecosystem."
- Permanent inhabitant: A person who lives in a place indefinitely.
- Example: "She became a permanent inhabitant of the village."
Noun
- a person who inhabits a particular place