What does "settlement" mean?
The act of settling.
Settlement
/ˈsɛ.təl.mənt/ noun
noun ·Very common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of settling.
- Grammar: settlement is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: colony, resolution, village, abalienation.
- Useful contrasts: german prozess, italian processo, lasting disagreement.
- Usage evidence: Some scholars ascribe the settlement of America to social unrest in Western Europe.
How to use "settlement"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "settlement" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "settlement" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "settlement" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "settlement" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "settlement" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "colony" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "settlement", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of settling. countable, uncountable
"settlement of debt"
- 2 termination of a business operation by using its assets to discharge its liabilities wordnet
- 3 The state of being settled. countable, uncountable
- 4 the act of colonizing; the establishment of colonies wordnet
- 5 A colony that is newly established; a place or region newly settled. countable, uncountable
"Such anthropophilous behaviour makes it a good candidate for a commensal relationship with humans at the Neolithic settlements of Quanhucun, Wuzhuangguoliang and Xiawanggang, as well as other Middle and Late Neolithic settlements in China […]"
Show 14 more definitions
- 6 something settled or resolved; the outcome of decision making wordnet
- 7 A community of people living together, such as a hamlet, village, town, or city; a populated place. countable, uncountable
"Here, after months of relative inactivity, Russian forces have drastically increased the intensity of their offensive operations targeting the villages of Staromaiorske and Urozhaine. These villages, located south of Velyka Novosilka, hold tactical and symbolic significance, as these are the last settlements that Ukrainian forces recaptured during their counteroffensive in the summer of 2023."
- 8 a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it wordnet
- 9 A site where people used to live together in ancient times; an ancient simple kind of village. countable, uncountable
- 10 a community of people smaller than a town wordnet
- 11 The gradual sinking of a building. Fractures or dislocations caused by settlement. countable, uncountable
- 12 a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government wordnet
- 13 The delivery of goods by the seller and payment for them by the buyer, under a previously agreed trade or transaction or contract entered into. countable, uncountable
- 14 an area where a group of families live together wordnet
- 15 A disposition of property, or the act of granting it. countable, uncountable
- 16 A settled place of abode; residence; a right growing out of legal residence. countable, uncountable
- 17 A resolution of a dispute. countable, uncountable
- 18 A mutual agreement to end a dispute without resorting to legal proceedings, also known as an out-of-court settlement or settling out of court. countable, uncountable
"The family of a^([sic]) Ohio teenager who was crushed to death by the seat of a minivan after emergency responders failed to find him in time has been awarded a $6million settlement […] As part of the settlement, the city has pledged to improve its 911 call centre […]"
- 19 An estate or district in Anglo-Indian Bengal where, instead of taking a quota of the year's produce, the government took a fixed sum several times a year from the local cultivators. India, countable, historical, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
german prozessitalian processolasting disagreementlegal action
Example
"Some scholars ascribe the settlement of America to social unrest in Western Europe."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "settlement"?
Common synonyms include: colony, resolution, village, abalienation, abatement of differences, aberdare.
How do you use "settlement" in a sentence?
Some scholars ascribe the settlement of America to social unrest in Western Europe.
How do you pronounce "settlement"?
Pronounced /ˈsɛ.təl.mənt/.
Etymology
From settle + -ment.