settlement

/ˈsɛtəlmənt/
noun
  1. A place where people have come to live, especially a small community or village.
    • The small settlement had only a few houses and a store.
    • The first European settlement in that area was built near the river.
    • Archaeologists discovered an ancient settlement from the Bronze Age.
  2. An official agreement that ends a disagreement or legal dispute.
    • After months of negotiation, a financial settlement was finally signed.
    • The two companies reached a settlement out of court.
    • The divorce settlement included custody of the children.
  3. The act of paying a bill, debt, or account in full.
    • Please send your payment for the settlement of the invoice.
    • The bank processed the settlement of the loan.
    • Settlement of the debt must occur within 30 days.
  4. The process of people moving to a new area to live there permanently.
    • The settlement of the western frontier took many decades.
    • The government encouraged settlement of the rural regions.
    • Settlement patterns changed with the arrival of railroads.
Antonyms
What does "settlement" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean