Word
settlement
Phoneticsset·tle·ment, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛtəɫmənt/
UK/sˈɛtəlmənt/
Definitions
01legal agreement
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. an official agreement that finishes an argument or a legal case.
n. the resolution of a dispute or lawsuit, often involving a financial arrangement to avoid further litigation.
Español:finiquito
“The two companies reached a settlement out of court to avoid a long trial.”
“After months of bitter negotiation, the parties finally signed a multi-million dollar settlement that effectively ended the class-action lawsuit.”
Synonyms
02a small community
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a place where people have come to live and build homes, especially where few people lived before.
n. a newly established or small community, such as a village or colony, often in a previously uninhabited area.
“The early settlers built a small settlement near the river for easy access to water.”
“Archaeologists discovered the remains of a Viking settlement, providing new evidence of their presence in North America centuries before Columbus.”
03financial payment
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Finance Formal
n. the final payment of money that you owe.
n. the process of paying a debt or finishing a financial transaction.
“The bank requested full settlement of the debt within thirty days.”
“The final settlement of the estate took nearly two years due to the complexity of the deceased's international assets.”
Synonyms
04building sinking
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Architecture Technical
n. the way a building slowly sinks into the ground over time.
n. the gradual sinking of a structure into the ground as the soil beneath it compresses.
“The cracks in the wall were caused by the natural settlement of the house.”
“Engineers monitored the foundation closely, concerned that uneven settlement might compromise the structural integrity of the new skyscraper.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “settlement” in context.
Verb
01. accept a settlement
“The plaintiff decided to accept a settlement rather than risk a lengthy court battle.”
verb + noun
02. negotiate a settlement
“The legal teams are working around the clock to negotiate a settlement before the trial begins.”
verb + noun
03. reach a settlement
“After months of intense negotiation, both parties finally managed to reach a settlement.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. amicable settlement
“The divorce ended in an amicable settlement that prioritized the well-being of the children.”
adj + noun
05. out-of-court settlement
“The company agreed to an out-of-court settlement to avoid further negative publicity.”
adj + noun
06. permanent settlement
“Archaeologists discovered evidence of a permanent settlement dating back to the Bronze Age.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. divorce settlement
“She received a substantial divorce settlement that included the family home and a monthly stipend.”
noun + noun
08. settlement of the dispute
“The mediator facilitated a swift settlement of the dispute between the two neighbors.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“Israel has declared about 26 percent of the West Bank’s territory as “state land,” on which settlements can be built.” “During these times of conflict, a scarcity of materials and manpower made it impossible to guarantee the security of new settlements.” “In Croatia, strong winds drove a wildfire into the tourist town of Omis on Friday, enveloping settlements and forest areas.” “He said there would have been a confidential deed of settlement, likely with non-disparagement provisions, but with no restrictions on further lawsuits or claims against other parties.” Etymology
From settle + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/settlement
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0