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.
Last May, Schaffer and CAHA moved to have that case dismissed after agreeing to a confidential settlement. Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Their client-first approach is further underscored by a contingency fee structure that sets them apart—charging only 25% upon settlement, significantly lower than the industry standard of 33.3%. William Jones, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 Newsmax has paid out $20 million of that settlement so far, according to its IPO disclosure, and the remaining balance will be paid by March 31 and June 30 this year. Giacomo Tognini, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 As the company went public, Ruddy downplayed the pro-Trump leanings of Newsmax — which reached a $40 million settlement last year with Smartmatic over the network’s false claims that the voting machine company helped to rig the 2020 presidential election in favor of former President Joe Biden. Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 31 Mar. 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 8 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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