# squatting

/ˈskwɑtɪŋ/ (US) · /skwˈɒtɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/squatting
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the act of living in a building or land without the owner's permission. It is often used to describe people who move into empty houses to save money or protest against high rents.

For teachers: the act of occupying a building or land without legal title or the permission of the owner. Often used in sociological or legal contexts to describe a form of informal housing.

## Examples

- The city is trying to stop squatting in old buildings.
- Many young people in the city resort to squatting to afford housing in an area where rent prices have doubled in five years.
- Urban planners often debate whether squatting should be treated as a criminal act or as a legitimate response to the systemic failure of the housing market to meet basic needs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.