# settler

/ˈsɛtəɫɝ/ (US) · /sˈɛtlɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/settler
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a person who goes to live in a new place where not many people from their own country have lived before. They often move to start a new life or farm the land.

For teachers: a person who migrates to an area and establishes a permanent residence there, often in a region previously uninhabited by their own ethnic or national group.

## Examples

- The early settlers built small wooden houses near the river.
- Many settlers moved west in search of fertile land and a fresh start for their families.
- The arrival of European settlers in the eighteenth century fundamentally altered the local ecosystem and displaced the indigenous populations that had inhabited the region for millennia.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in historical contexts to describe colonial expansion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.