settlement
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
an official agreement that finishes an argument or a legal case.
the resolution of a dispute or lawsuit, often involving a financial arrangement to avoid further litigation.
Simple“The two companies reached a settlement out of court to avoid a long trial.”
In context“After months of bitter negotiation, the parties finally signed a multi-million dollar settlement that effectively ended the class-action lawsuit.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a place where people have come to live and build homes, especially where few people lived before.
a newly established or small community, such as a village or colony, often in a previously uninhabited area.
Simple“The early settlers built a small settlement near the river for easy access to water.”
In context“Archaeologists discovered the remains of a Viking settlement, providing new evidence of their presence in North America centuries before Columbus.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
the final payment of money that you owe.
the process of paying a debt or finishing a financial transaction.
Simple“The bank requested full settlement of the debt within thirty days.”
In context“The final settlement of the estate took nearly two years due to the complexity of the deceased's international assets.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
the way a building slowly sinks into the ground over time.
the gradual sinking of a structure into the ground as the soil beneath it compresses.
Simple“The cracks in the wall were caused by the natural settlement of the house.”
In context“Engineers monitored the foundation closely, concerned that uneven settlement might compromise the structural integrity of the new skyscraper.”
Synonyms
Usage settlement agreement · settlement expansion · settlements in the occupied
“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.”
From settle + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.