squatter

verb

squat·ter | \ ˈskwä-tər

squattered; squattering; squatters

Definition of squatter

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to go along through or as if through water ducks squattering to the shore

squatter

noun

Definition of squatter (Entry 2 of 2)

: one that squats: such as

a : one that settles on property without right or title or payment of rent

b : one that settles on public land under government regulation with the purpose of acquiring title

Examples of squatter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

In the 1970s, as the city was hit by a financial crisis and crime soared, squatters would break into the castle and set fires. — New York Times, "Central Park’s Castle Gets a $12 Million Fairy-Tale Makeover," 12 July 2019 The house, even more lovingly photographed from inside, is a squatter’s paradise with its antique furnishings and intricate woodwork. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: ‘Last Black Man in San Francisco’ a gorgeous, moving ode to a city in flux," 20 June 2019 Multiple neighbors said squatters had taken up residence in the house, claiming to have a lease, but ultimately the ruse was uncovered by the Orlando police and the bank. — Ryan Gillespie, orlandosentinel.com, "‘Goliath vs. Goliath’: How a sliver of land and a fence has pit Bags Inc. founder vs. Deutsche Bank," 28 June 2019 The house, even more lovingly photographed from inside, is a squatter’s paradise with its antique furnishings and intricate woodwork. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: ‘Last Black Man in San Francisco’ a gorgeous, moving ode to a city in flux," 20 June 2019 The house, even more lovingly photographed from inside, is a squatter’s paradise with its antique furnishings and intricate woodwork. — Justin Chang, Twin Cities, "‘The Last Black Man in San Francisco’ is a gorgeous, moving ode to a city in flux," 13 June 2019 This one was previously occupied by a squatter and had been taken over by police marshals. — Whitney Robinson, ELLE Decor, "How an Uninhabitable "Dump" Became a Stunning Family Home in the East Village," 11 May 2018 The building was formally a headquarters for federal police but had been abandoned for many years and had been occupied by squatters, according to local media. — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, "Sao Paulo high rise collapses during massive fire, at least 1 dead," 2 Oct. 2018 But it was abandoned after a banking crisis and in the past two decades of socialist rule has become a symbol of urban blight, having been occupied by squatters until 2015. — Scott Smith, The Seattle Times, "Strong quake rocks Venezuela but little damage reported," 21 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'squatter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of squatter was in 1785

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More Definitions for squatter

squatter

noun

English Language Learners Definition of squatter

: someone who lives in a building or on land without the permission of the owner and without paying : someone who squats

See the full definition for squatter in the English Language Learners Dictionary

squatter

noun

squat·ter | \ ˈskwä-tər\

Legal Definition of squatter

: a person who occupies real property without a claim of right or title

Note: In most jurisdictions, a squatter cannot gain title to land through adverse possession because adverse possession requires possession of the property under a claim of right or color of title.