settler

noun

set·​tler ˈse-tᵊl-ər How to pronounce settler (audio)
ˈset-lər
1
: one that settles something
a settler of disputes
2
: someone who settles in a new region or colony
the first settlers of New England

Examples of settler in a Sentence

settlers learning to live in peace with the natives in 1889 Jane Addams, in an effort to provide Chicago's latest wave of settlers with much-needed services, founded the city's first settlement house
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The settlers built the beginnings of the Presidio of San Francisco and the Mission San Francisco de Asís. Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025 In March, Adra’s co-director on the film Hamdan Ballal was detained by Israeli forces overnight after being assaulted by settlers just after an iftar dinner during Ramadan. Max Saltman, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025 Whose idea was this, and what kinds of settler-colonial relations does this mock holdup invert? Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025 The earth itself has an abundance of pot-worthy clay, which attracted early settlers and has continued to sustain generations of potters. Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for settler

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of settler was in 1598

Cite this Entry

“Settler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/settler. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

settler

noun
set·​tler ˈset-lər How to pronounce settler (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
: a person who settles in a new region : colonist

More from Merriam-Webster on settler

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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