From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsqualidsqual‧id /ˈskwɒlɪd $ ˈskwɑː-/ adjective1DIRTYvery dirty and unpleasant because of a lack of care or money → squalorHow can anyone live in such squalid conditions?a tiny squalid apartment► see thesaurus at dirty2BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS especially British Englishimmoral or dishonestsqualid behavioura squalid affairExamples from the Corpussqualid• He had explored areas which ranged from the untidy and uncared for to the downright squalid.• a squalid and corruptpolitical system• And the way of life this film holds up to be squalid and ruinous is the way of Woodstock.• The living conditions these immigrantsendure are squalid, at best.• She particularly noted the squalid condition of many schools.• After the squalid conditions of the refugeecamps even this place seems preferable.• He left and found a squalidflat in Brentford, which they shared with another couple and their children.• He noddedChant on, and together they headed over the ill-lit and squalidground.• Dalmer lived in a squalid little room above a shop.• In 1597 this priest with degrees in both divinity and law opened a school in the squalid part of Tiber.• More children still swarm in the slums and the squalidquaysides of nearby Talcahuano..• Her childhood was spent in the squalid slums east of the city.• squalid slums• That raffle was no more squalid than the raffle we all play every day.Originsqualid(1500-1600)Latinsqualidus, from squalere"to be dirty", from squalus"dirty"