settlement

noun

set·​tle·​ment ˈse-tᵊl-mənt How to pronounce settlement (audio)
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
5
: an agreement composing differences
6
: payment or adjustment of an account

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 on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The company reached a financial settlement with the men and apologized. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025 The festival reached a settlement with 277 ticket holders in 2021, when it was ordered to pay each recipient an award of $7,220. Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025 The settlement, which was capped at $2 million to not bankrupt the city, will be paid through the city’s insurance coverage, according to KSAT. David Matthews, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025 Five months later, Hettinger’s sister and brother-in-law requested that the settlement be voided and their claims reinstated, according to court documents. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for settlement

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of settlement was in 1589

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Settlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/settlement. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

settlement

noun
set·​tle·​ment ˈset-ᵊl-mənt How to pronounce settlement (audio)
1
: the act of settling : the condition of being settled
2
: final payment (as of a bill)
3
a
: a place or region newly settled
b
: a small village
4

Legal Definition

settlement

noun
set·​tle·​ment
1
: the act or process of settling
2
a
: an agreement reducing or resolving differences
especially : an agreement between litigants that concludes the litigation
the states finally agreed upon a settlement and a consent decree W. J. Brennan, Jr.
entered into a property settlement prior to the divorce
b
: a formal and permanent grant or conveyance
c
: the sum, estate, or income granted or paid under a settlement
if the monetary limits of a defendant's insurance policy can be discovered in order to obtain reasonable settlementsJ. H. Friedenthal et al.
3
: closing
settlement costs
4
: the transfer of funds between a payor bank and a collecting bank in order to complete transactions for customers

More from Merriam-Webster on settlement

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