noun

• 1An official agreement intended to resolve a dispute or conflict.

  ‘unions succeeded in reaching a pay settlement’

  More example sentences

  • ‘the settlement of the boundary disputes’
  • ‘The peaceful settlement of this dispute has allowed for renewed co-operation.’
  • ‘It is the same form of acknowledgment seen in the settlements that the National Government was involved in.’
  • ‘Chapter 6 deals with the peaceful settlement of disputes, in which all sides seek a solution.’
  • ‘Since the end of last year and until recently, there were repeated efforts to secure a negotiated settlement of the dispute.’
  • ‘Is there a chance of a negotiated settlement to the conflict?’
  • ‘For months they have been applying intense economic and diplomatic pressure for a settlement of the destabilising conflict.’
  • ‘The two men shaking hands represent the peaceful settlement of a conflict over the lagoon.’
  • ‘A peaceful settlement to the conflict is no longer possible.’
  • ‘They were reinstated after the settlement of the dispute.’
  • ‘At no stage can it be credibly argued that all means towards a peaceful settlement in the conflict had been exhausted, the report insists.’
  • ‘It assists in the peaceful settlement of disputes.’
  • ‘A similar protest in 1978 led to the creation of the organisation Peace Now, which continues to fight for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.’
  • ‘We can have no illusions that there can be a peaceful settlement or compromise with this gang.’
  • ‘They are the result of the settlement of the national pay dispute which opened the door to localised attacks on conditions.’
  • ‘He stressed that normalization in the region is not possible without a settlement of the dispute.’
  • ‘The next day's official negotiations were the most productive yet and an improved settlement seems possible.’
  • ‘Just when a peaceful settlement to the civil war appeared possible another nightmare scenario erupted.’
  • ‘The press has labelled the failed settlement a power-sharing agreement.’
  • ‘The details of the settlement were unclear as Socialist Worker went to press.’
  • ‘The greatest myth is that right up to the start of the war they were open to a peaceful settlement.’

  Synonyms

  agreement, deal, arrangement, resolution, accommodation, bargain, understanding, pact

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1A formal arrangement made between the parties to a lawsuit in order to resolve it, especially out of court.
     ‘the award was made as an out-of-court settlement by the driver's insurance firm’
     More example sentences

     • ‘During the trial, the court once suggested the parties reach a friendly settlement, which the plaintiffs accepted in order to relieve the aging women, but the government rejected it.’
     • ‘A district court judge has rejected Microsoft's proposed settlement in the private law suits brought against the company.’
     • ‘It is a matter for the parties and their legal advisers whether or not to start proceedings at all and, if so, whether to seek to reach a settlement before formal proceedings begin.’
     • ‘However a recent study reveals that a full apology is more likely to result in the quick settlement of lawsuits.’
     • ‘He tried to negotiate a settlement of the unfiled lawsuit.’
     • ‘Microsoft and Caldera announced they have reached a mutually agreeable settlement of an antitrust lawsuit filed by Caldera in July 1996.’
     • ‘Last July the professor wrote to inform the Association that he had reached an out-of court settlement with the university.’
     • ‘Here in Australia there have been no court awards to individual smokers, and only two out-of-court settlements.’
     • ‘Commentators have suggested that no drug company has yet lost a case in the British courts, although there have been some out-of-court settlements.’
     • ‘That decision was challenged by Eircom in the High Court and a settlement was subsequently reached.’
     • ‘Last month, the Japanese high court told the two parties to reach a settlement that would leave Nichia still standing.’
     • ‘They reached an out-of-court settlement, but I understand that they received compensation for their troubles.’
     • ‘Ought the court to enforce the settlement arrived at?’
     • ‘Lawsuits and a settlement totaling $13 billion resulted in front-page coverage.’
     • ‘As a result, just last week, the parties to this long-running class action reached a settlement.’
     • ‘Three of the plaintiffs reached settlements of their cases out of court.’
     • ‘In July of 2004, counsel negotiated a settlement between the parties.’
     • ‘Quiet settlements and sealed court records are not necessarily sinister.’
     • ‘Company and labour officials reached a settlement to the pay dispute under which a month's salary will be paid this week.’
     • ‘Part of the settlement requires back pay to the workers.’
     Synonyms

     resolution, sorting out, settling, solution, solving, bringing to an end, working out, smoothing over, reconciliation

     View synonyms

• 2A place, typically one which has previously been uninhabited, where people establish a community.

  ‘one of the oldest Viking settlements in western Europe’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Many settlements turned into ghost towns, as the land could no longer sustain life.’
  • ‘It will be touring the province's reserves, settlements and native communities.’
  • ‘Attempts by Spanish and French colonists to establish settlements were unsuccessful.’
  • ‘In the century that followed, the Dutch established settlements and devised means to live off the land.’
  • ‘Libya boasts the ruins of ancient Greek outposts, Phoenician settlements and Berber cities.’
  • ‘Instead, they established settlements on the outskirts of towns, where they worked as wage laborers.’
  • ‘The Russians gradually colonized the north, establishing Cossack settlements in the lowlands.’
  • ‘Coastal settlements were established, but the interior was forbidding.’
  • ‘He ended up in Queensland where he established an Aboriginal settlement at Yarrabah on Mission Bay, east of Cairns.’
  • ‘Eighteen villages and two urban settlements in the northeastern district of Monduli will benefit from the initiative.’
  • ‘In the 1730s Slovenians and Croatians established small agricultural settlements in Georgia.’
  • ‘We are not going to build new townships or new settlements.’
  • ‘By the end of the nineteenth century, Cajuns had established settlements in the Louisiana-Texas border region.’
  • ‘In the 1790s, the islands began to attract whalers from Europe who established the first settlements on the coast.’
  • ‘However, before permanent settlements are established, people will probably occupy a series of lunar outposts.’
  • ‘There were even attempts to establish Scottish farming settlements as well as commercial connections in South America.’
  • ‘Over the next 150 years, more English settlements were established.’
  • ‘Cartier's third voyage to Canada was a failure in terms of establishing a settlement.’
  • ‘Both communities are remote settlements on sites with long histories and dependable access to wild animals, fish, and plants.’
  • ‘Over 1,400 cities, towns and settlements have been found so far, with about 900 in India.’

  Synonyms

  community, colony, outpost, encampment

  View synonyms

  1. 2.1mass noun The process of establishing a settlement or settlements.
     ‘a continent where settlement is at the mercy of geography’
     More example sentences

     • ‘A process of settlement and resettlement along the Niger continued into the nineteenth century.’
     • ‘The story of the railways of Shanghai goes back to the early days of Western settlement in the city after it was forced open by the unequal treaties imposed by the Western imperialists.’
     • ‘She presents a wide variety of descriptive material concerning Aboriginal life, dating from the earliest years of European settlement.’
     • ‘A survivor of fire, flood and suburbia, Christ Church is a remarkable artefact of Wellington's early settlement.’
     • ‘Resources of grass and gold dominated the early period of European settlement following exploitation of fur seals and flax.’
     • ‘The trip passes many different points of historical interest relating to both early European and Maori settlement.’
     • ‘Thorny bush, swamps and even tidal waves impeded early settlement, as did the belief that evil spirits inhabited the islands.’
     • ‘It is a fine publication which will be enjoyed by anyone interested in the early history of settlement in Australia.’
     • ‘For those on the wrong side of the law, the 1950s were seemingly akin to the early days of penal settlement.’
     • ‘Coins from the earliest days of Australian settlement to modern decimal currency are displayed.’
     • ‘This is an area long in history of the Maori and of early white settlement.’
     • ‘In the early days of settlement in the valley there were two schools, one at the top and one near the Akaroa Road.’
     • ‘Repetition of the purified story of John Ramsay's help during the early years of settlement continues to silence Native voices.’
     • ‘It comprehensively records the early years after white settlement, so our explorers and colonial governors feature, as do a few indigenous Australians.’
     • ‘The detailed recounting of the outrageous cultural and physical destruction of Aboriginal societies in the process of white settlement disturbs a good many Australians.’
     • ‘The patterns of Swedish immigrant settlement changed during the course of the nineteenth century, varying with economic conditions and opportunities.’
     • ‘The area is a fantastic place to do research, Pastron says, because of its immigrant history and rapid settlement in the 19th century.’
     • ‘Some see this fishing equipment as evidence for boat-building technology that may have allowed for initial human settlement of the Americas by sea rather than by the Bering land bridge.’
     • ‘In the early days of our pioneering era, following European settlement, mining gave a huge boost to this country's economy.’
     • ‘It is the first in a planned series of three volumes on the impact of European settlement in Australia.’
     Synonyms

     colonization, settling, populating, peopling

     View synonyms
  2. 2.2mass noun The action of allowing or helping people to establish settlements.
     ‘the settlement of immigrants in the occupied territories’
     More example sentences

     • ‘The 1976 Immigration Act made family reunification and refugee settlement two of Canada's fundamental objectives.’

• 3Law
  An arrangement whereby property passes to a succession of people as dictated by the settlor.

  ‘inheritance tax could be due if you make a substantial gift or settlement and then die within the following seven years’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Once the church courts had agreed that the marriage should end, only a private Act of Parliament could give effect to property settlements and issues of succession.’
  • ‘These settlements are settlements of property made in the course of marriage, and they deal with the interests of the children of the marriage.’
  • ‘Up until now we've had to go to court, even if it's just with consent orders, to finalise property settlements.’
  • ‘In legal terms, what John is wanting to do is to create a settlement, giving successive interests to members of his family: a life estate to his widow and a remainder in fee simple to his daughters.’
  • ‘It is very important, if this step is to be taken, that each spouse has sufficient investments in their own name to pass into the discretionary settlement on death.’

  1. 3.1The property given under a settlement.
     ‘The compensator deducts from the settlement an amount equal to the benefits that have been paid.’
     More example sentences

     • ‘She apparently went on a spending spree with her portion of the property settlement and bought $7,000 worth of furniture.’
     • ‘Once the monetary settlement is received, property owners can begin the process of reconstruction.’
  2. 3.2
     short for marriage settlement

• 4mass noun The action or process of settling an account.

  as modifier ‘most suppliers will offer early settlement discounts’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Otherwise, they won't make so much money out of me in spite of early settlement penalties.’
  • ‘On the other hand, the losses on contracts that require settlement in cash are accounted for as a charge in the income statement.’
  • ‘What's more, free life insurance is included, plus there are no other charges or early settlement penalties.’
  • ‘Some pharmaceutical companies give early settlement discounts and rebates’
  • ‘Two months' extra interest is the norm, but a few enlightened lenders don't charge any early settlement penalty.’
  • ‘The administration has lowered the standard for local enterprises to set up settlement accounts for foreign exchange.’
  • ‘Invoice discounting or offering discounts for early settlement could ensure that book debts are quickly collected.’
  • ‘In normal operation CHAPS payments are settled in real time across settlement accounts, maintained by Members at the Bank of England.’
  • ‘Fortunately, the government has put a stop to it and new loans taken out 1st June can only incur early settlement charges of, at most, two months interest.’
  • ‘The interbank market remained fairly liquid last week even though a total of K150 billion was traded for on the treasury bill and bond settlement market on Monday.’
  • ‘Credit vehicles increasingly are used for a preponderance of transactions, with settlement made through book entries and expanding financial claims.’
  • ‘However, this deal comes with a £499 upfront arrangement fee, plus a two-year lock-in with a hefty early settlement penalty.’
  • ‘Early settlement discounts will vary from one supplier to another, but you can usually expect to obtain a maximum of 5 per cent off the total purchasing price.’
  • ‘And about K70 billion is this week expected to exit the market through treasury bills settlement, after the Bank of Zambia offered the same amount last week.’
  • ‘Finally, watch out for early settlement penalties, because around seven in ten personal loans are paid off early.’
  • ‘Admittedly, these borrowers are then locked in to paying Northern Rock's standard variable rate for ten years, or face stiff penalties for early settlement!’
  • ‘Egg claims that 70% of loans are paid off early but, in spite of this, four out of five lenders penalise borrowers for early settlement.’
  • ‘Around seven out of ten personal loans are paid off early, so watch out for loans that include hefty fines for early settlement.’
  • ‘We don't have an array of complete services like on-line banking and a central on-line transaction processing and settlement center for all banks.’
  • ‘Immediately following the purchase, they were sold back to the original broker with settlement terms of five days.’

  Synonyms

  payment, discharge, defrayal, liquidation, settling, settling up, clearance, clearing, satisfaction

  View synonyms

• 5mass noun Subsidence of the ground or a structure built on it.

  ‘a boundary wall, which has cracked due to settlement, is to be replaced’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The structures in this area all appear to be founded on bedrock and there is no evidence of subsidence or settlement.’
  • ‘The department will continuously monitor the ground settlement of all buildings in Tin Fu Court and repair damage immediately, Tam said.’
  • ‘He said sewer pipes were altered in the 1980s, as part of a major Kendal scheme, and settlement in the ground had probably caused the old and new sections of tubing to collapse.’
  • ‘With a train running past the site every two minutes, there was extensive monitoring of any ground settlement.’
  • ‘Have you ever suffered from flooding, subsidence, settlement or landslip?’
  • ‘English Heritage said Gallows Tamkin is suffering from structural settlement and English Heritage has advised the council on the appropriate steps to take.’
  • ‘It is likely that settlement is due to the variation in moisture content in the soil.’
  • ‘Apparent settlement could be minor in nature or symptomatic of a major structural problem.’
  • ‘There is long term settlement, but short term settlement could have occurred due to construction.’
  • ‘O'Donnell cautions that particular care should be taken with certain types of tiles, such as terracotta, which can often get a hairline crack due to the settlement of the under structure.’
  • ‘The foundation undergoes differential settlement due to its own flexibility.’