squatter
/ˈskwɑtər/
noun
- A person who lives in an empty building or on unused land without legal permission or ownership.
- A group of squatters turned the old school into a community garden.
- The abandoned warehouse was home to several squatters who had nowhere else to go.
- The city evicted the squatters from the vacant lot last week.
- A person who settles on public land under a government scheme to gain ownership, especially in historical contexts.
- In the 1800s, many squatters claimed land in the American West by building cabins.
- The Australian government granted land to squatters who improved the property.
- Squatters often faced conflicts with Indigenous peoples over land rights.
Antonyms
adjective
- Comparative form of squat: shorter and thicker or lower and wider in shape.
- The new table is squatter than the old one, so it fits better under the window.
- This breed of dog is squatter and more muscular than most terriers.
- The building's design became squatter after the architect added extra floors.