squatter

1 of 2

verb

squat·​ter ˈskwä-tər How to pronounce squatter (audio)
squattered; squattering; squatters

intransitive verb

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

squatter

2 of 2

noun

: 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
Verb
Spenard is named for the bootlegger and squatter Joe Spenard. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 1 June 2020
Noun
Welcoming short-term renters was a way to avoid the responsibility of a 24/7 tenant or the risk of squatters. Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 5 Mar. 2024 The house has caught fire, causing damage to a neighboring home, and attracted squatters the past couple of years, Mitchell said. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Jan. 2024 Most strikingly, many residents did not appear to have known that Flores did not own the home and had lived there as a potential squatter. Peter Aitken, Fox News, 1 Mar. 2024 Buildings falling down, burned out, abandoned, condemned, occupied by squatters. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 The blaze had swept through a government property at 80 Albert Street, a deathtrap of a building where squatters pilfered electricity, built indoor shacks out of cardboard and cooked on paraffin stoves. John Eligon, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2023 Domain squatters have been doing a pretty good business for decades, but the explosive growth of generative AI tools has given the practice a significant boost. Wired Staff, WIRED, 15 Feb. 2024 Some low-level municipal officials have capitalized on this by illegally collecting rent from squatters, according to multiple current and former city officials. John Eligon, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2023 New domains also often force corporations to play defense, scooping up any URLs that might be associated with their business before squatters do, potentially hurting the brand. Chris Morris, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Verb

1785, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1788, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of squatter was in 1785

Dictionary Entries Near squatter

Cite this Entry

“Squatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squatter. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

squatter

noun
squat·​ter
ˈskwät-ər
1
: one that squats
2
a
: one that settles on land without right or title or payment of rent
b
: one that settles on public land under government regulation with the purpose of acquiring title

Legal Definition

squatter

noun
squat·​ter
ˈskwä-tər
: 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.

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