WordValesettlement
resolving a dispute by agreement before judgment
In more detail
1. (noun) an agreement that ends a disagreement or legal dispute
2. (noun) a small community or group of houses in a remote area
3. (noun) the process of paying a debt or bill
4. (noun) the act of moving to and establishing a new place to live
Examples
- 1. The two companies reached a settlement to avoid going to court.
- 2. The early settlers founded a small settlement near the river.
- 3. Payment must be made within 30 days of settlement.
How to use settlement
Settlement is a versatile noun with distinct but related meanings. In legal and financial contexts, it refers to an agreement resolving a dispute or the act of paying an obligation. In geographical contexts, it denotes a small inhabited community. The word is neutral and widely used across formal business communication, legal documents, and general discourse.
Common phrases
- reach a settlement
- court settlement
- out-of-court settlement
- settlement agreement
- settle a settlement
- settlement terms
Synonyms
agreement · accord · resolution · arrangement · pact
Opposites
disagreement · dispute · conflict
Word family
settle (verb) · settler (noun) · settled (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 'settlement' with 'sentence' when discussing legal outcomes; a settlement is an agreement, while a sentence is a judicial punishment.
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