squat

American  

[skwot] / skwɒt /

verb (used without object)

squatted, squat, squatting

1. to sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn up closely beneath or in front of the body; sit on one's haunches or heels.

2. to crouch down or cower, as an animal.

3. to settle on or occupy property, especially otherwise unoccupied property, without any title, right, or payment of rent.

4. to settle on public land under government regulation, in order to acquire title.

5. Nautical. (of a vessel, especially a power vessel) to draw more water astern when in motion forward than when at rest.

---

verb (used with object)

squatted, squat, squatting

1. to cause to squat.

2. to occupy (property) as a squatter.

adjective

squatter, squattest

1. (of a person, animal, the body, etc.) short and thickset.

   Synonyms:

   blocky, stocky, dumpy

2. low and thick or broad.

   The building had a squat shape.

3. seated or being in a squatting position; crouching.

noun

1. the act or fact of squatting.

2. a squatting position or posture.

3. a weightlifting exercise in which a person squats and then returns to an erect position while holding a barbell at the back of the shoulders.

4. Nautical. the tendency of a vessel to draw more water astern when in motion than when stationary.

5. Slang. diddly-squat.

6. a place occupied by squatters.

squat British  

/ skwɒt /

verb

1. to rest in a crouching position with the knees bent and the weight on the feet

2. to crouch down, esp in order to hide

3. law (tr) to occupy land or property to which the occupant has no legal title

4. weightlifting to crouch down to one's knees and rise to a standing position while holding (a specified weight) behind one's neck

---

adjective

1. Also: squatty.  short and broad

   a squat chair

noun

1. a squatting position

2. weightlifting an exercise in which a person crouches down and rises up repeatedly while holding a barbell at shoulder height

3. a house occupied by squatters

Other Word Forms

• squatly adverb
• squatness noun

Etymology

Origin of squat

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (verb) squatten, from Old French esquater, esquatir, equivalent to es- + quatir, from unattested Vulgar Latin coactīre “to compress,” equivalent to Latin coāct(us), past participle of cōgere “to compress” ( co- + ag(ere) “to drive” + -tus past participle suffix) + -īre infinitive suffix; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb; ex- ¹, co-

Example Sentences

“I had to squat and kick my heels out, which, frankly, was not easy for me,” he said.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

NUUK, Greenland—In a squat building at the center of this icebound capital, Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, addressed a hastily convened press conference to reassure his 57,000 compatriots.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026

There’s a belt squat machine, for people with shoulder impingement or spinal compression issues; a bilateral leg press which helps with imbalances; “specialty bars” which help avoid impact on the shoulders.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

D5 - the squat bungalow - now sits derelict, out of place among a row of plush, well-kept homes.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

If you ever try to squat on top of a toilet, you’ll probably realize that aim becomes a major issue, along with balance and not breaking the hinges of the seat.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• cower
• crouch
• hunch
• perch
• sit
• stoop