settlement

noun set·tle·ment \ ˈse-tᵊl-mənt \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of settlement

1 : the act or process of settling

2 a : an act of bestowing or giving possession under legal sanction

b : the sum, estate, or income secured to one by such a settlement

3 a : occupation by settlers

b : a place or region newly settled

c : a small village

4 : settlement house

5 : an agreement composing differences

6 : payment or adjustment of an account

See settlement defined for English-language learners

See settlement defined for kids

Examples of settlement in a Sentence

I got the house in the divorce settlement.
The parties have not been able to reach a settlement in the case.
We were hoping for a quick settlement of the dispute between the neighbors.
English settlements in North America.
This was the island's first colonial settlement.
They came upon the ruins of an ancient settlement.

Recent Examples of settlement from the Web

Farenthold had vowed to repay the taxpayer money used for the settlement in December, but as of last month he had not yet paid back that money.

— sunlen serfaty and daniella diaz, CNN, "Farenthold resigned before House panel could rule against him, Democrat's office says," 17 Apr. 2018
Even at the basement meeting, where some 40 people gathered to create a case for a better financial settlement for Moore, there were competing perspectives.

— michelle boorstein, Washington Post, "What happens when a church dedicated to fighting white supremacy is accused of it.," 17 Apr. 2018
Bird paid $300,000 as part of a settlement with Santa Monica, which had accused the company of operating without permits and owing $6,000 in fines.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "As new transit startups take over streets and sidewalks, cities need to step up," 11 Apr. 2018
Through mediation, Ada County agreed to pay $100,000 as part of a settlement with Holden P. Coladonato, an airman at Mountain Home Air Force Base who was partially blinded when shrapnel flew into his eye in the 2013 incident.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "Ada County lifts moratorium on gun shows at Expo Idaho | Idaho Statesman," 11 Apr. 2018
Both parties agreed to drop the case in 2015, but the terms of the settlement were not clear at the time.

— abby livingston, star-telegram, "Blake Farenthold abruptly resigns from Congress amid sexual harassment allegations | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 6 Apr. 2018
But it's also been widely criticized for abuses by lawyers shaking down businesses for quick settlements.

— maria clark, NOLA.com, "Walmart in early talks to buy Humana: report," 30 Mar. 2018
Details of the settlement aren't included in court records.

— ashley remkus, AL.com, "Petting zoo settles lawsuit with children who accused worker of sexual abuse," 30 Mar. 2018
Rifkin said the city had accounted for the multimillion dollar settlement in its budget.

— matthew ormseth, courant.com, "Hartford Agrees To Pay Out $2.75 Million To Residents Improperly Displaced From Condemned Buildings," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'settlement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of settlement

1648

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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settlement Synonyms

Synonyms

accord, agreement, bargain, compact, contract, convention, covenant, deal, disposition, pact, understanding;

Related Words

charter, treaty;

binder, pledge, promise;

alliance, association, entente, entente cordiale, league, partnership;

acceptance, approval, assent, concurrence, consent, OK (or okay);

SETTLEMENT Defined for English Language Learners

settlement

noun

Definition of settlement for English Language Learners

: a formal agreement or decision that ends an argument or dispute; also : an amount of money that someone receives as part of such an agreement
: the act or process of settling an argument or disagreement
: the act of paying back money that is owed