settlement

[ set-l-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act or state of settling or the state of being settled.
2. the act of making stable or putting on a permanent basis.
3. a state of stability or permanence.
4. an arrangement or adjustment, as of business affairs or a disagreement.
5. an agreement signed after labor negotiations between union and management.
6. the terms reached in this agreement.
7. the settling of persons in a new country or place.
8. a colony, especially in its early stages.
9. a small community, village, or group of houses in a thinly populated area.
10. a community formed and populated by members of a particular religious or ideological group:

    a Shaker settlement.

11. the satisfying of a claim or demand; a coming to terms.
12. Law.
    1. final disposition of an estate or the like.
    2. the settling settle settling of property, title, etc., upon a person.
    3. the property so settled. settle.
13. British.
    1. legal residence in a specific place.
    2. (of a pauper) the right to claim food and shelter from an official agency or specific town or district.
14. Also called settlement house. Social Work. an establishment in an underprivileged area providing social services to local residents.
15. a subsidence or sinking of all or part of a structure.

settlement

/ ˈsɛtəlmənt /

noun

1. the act or state of settling or being settled
2. the establishment of a new region; colonization
3. a place newly settled; colony
4. a collection of dwellings forming a community, esp on a frontier
5. a community formed by members of a group, esp of a religious sect
6. a public building used to provide educational and general welfare facilities for persons living in deprived areas
7. a subsidence of all or part of a structure
8. 1. the payment of an outstanding account, invoice, charge, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      settlement day

9. an adjustment or agreement reached in matters of finance, business, etc
10. law
    1. a conveyance, usually to trustees, of property to be enjoyed by several persons in succession
    2. the deed or other instrument conveying such property
    3. the determination of a dispute, etc, by mutual agreement without resorting to legal proceedings

Other Words From

• non·settle·ment noun
• over·settle·ment noun
• pre·settle·ment noun
• re·settle·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of settlement¹

First recorded in 1620–30; settle ¹ + -ment

Example Sentences

Worldwide, the number of displaced people has been climbing alongside what appears to be the rising severity of disasters, and research suggests that by later this century as much as one-third of civilization — billions of people — could be facing the kind of heat and drought that had prohibited most human settlement for thousands of years.

From Salon

The McGreanery family solicitor Gary Duffy said the settlement announced on Thursday was “long overdue” but also a “welcome endorsement of the family’s campaign to uncover the truth”.

From BBC

The family of a man who died after being shot by a British soldier more than 50 years ago in Londonderry have been awarded a "significant financial settlement".

From BBC

Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told the BBC he was "deeply troubled" by talks so far on its annual settlement for next year.

From BBC

Named after the original Dutch settlement on Manhattan where it stands, The Noortwyck offers a “timeless, New American” menu — a focus that’s evident at first glance.

From Salon

Related Words

• agreement
• arrangement
• compensation
• contract
• deal
• establishment
• payment
• resolution