squatter Definition
- 1a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land
- 2a person who lives in a building without the owner's permission and without paying rent
Using squatter: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "squatter" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The police evicted the squatters from the abandoned building.
Example
The land was occupied by squatters who refused to leave.
Example
The property owner had to take legal action to remove the squatter from his land.
squatter Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with squatter
a person who makes a living by occupying and then selling or renting out properties that do not belong to them
Example
The city has been cracking down on professional squatters who take advantage of vacant properties.
squatter's rights
the legal right of a person to use or occupy a property that they do not own, as long as they meet certain conditions, such as continuous occupation for a specified period of time
Example
The squatter claimed that he had acquired squatter's rights to the land after living there for over 10 years.
squatter camp
an area where a large number of people live in makeshift dwellings on land that they do not own, often lacking basic amenities such as water and sanitation
Example
The government has been working to improve conditions in the squatter camps on the outskirts of the city.
Origins of squatter
from 'squat', meaning 'to crouch or sit with one's knees bent and one's heels close to or touching one's buttocks or the back of one's thighs'
Summary: squatter in Brief
A 'squatter' [ˈskwɒtə(r)] is a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land, or lives in a building without the owner's permission and without paying rent. Examples include 'The police evicted the squatters from the abandoned building.' and 'The property owner had to take legal action to remove the squatter from his land.' Phrases like 'professional squatter' and 'squatter's rights' denote people who make a living from occupying properties or have legal rights to use or occupy a property they don't own. 'Squatter camp' refers to areas where many people live in makeshift dwellings on land they don't own.
