set ‧ tle ‧ ment W2 /ˈsetlmənt/ BrE AmE noun
1 . OFFICIAL AGREEMENT [countable] an official agreement or decision that ends an argument, a court case, or a fight, or the action of making an agreement:
Union leaders and company bosses will meet tomorrow in an attempt to reach a settlement.
His lawyers are understood to be negotiating a settlement.
Hopes grew that a workable peace settlement might emerge.
settlement of
the search for a peaceful settlement of the Northern Ireland conflict
She got her home as part of the divorce settlement.
The company paid out over $10 million in an out-of-court settlement.
2 . PAYMENT [uncountable] formal when you pay all the money that you owe
settlement of
the settlement of all his debts
in settlement (of something)
Wyatt had received the property in settlement of a bet.
3 . GROUP OF HOUSES [countable] a group of houses and buildings where people live, especially in a place where few people have lived before:
The railway stations created new settlements.
an early Iron Age settlement
4 . NEW AREA/PLACES [uncountable] when a lot of people move to a place in order to live there, especially in a place where not many people have lived before
settlement of
the settlement of the American West
5 . SINKING [uncountable] technical the process in which a building or the ground slowly sinks downwards SYN subsidence
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ reach a settlement
The companies reached a settlement in March.
▪ achieve a settlement (=after a lot of discussions)
The government was determined to achieve a settlement in Northern Ireland.
▪ negotiate a settlement (=have discussions to try to reach a settlement)
His lawyers are understood to be negotiating a settlement.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + settlement
▪ an amicable settlement (=when people agree in a friendly way)
Disputes were often taken to a village council, which attempted to bring about an amicable settlement.
▪ a peaceful settlement (=without fighting)
Both sides are working towards a peaceful settlement.
▪ a political settlement (=one that is reached by political discussion, not fighting)
The British government favours a political settlement in the Middle East.
▪ a peace settlement (=one which ends a war)
Hopes of a peace settlement receded.
▪ a divorce settlement (=an agreement about money and property at the end of a marriage)
She acquired full ownership of the building in her 1986 divorce settlement.
▪ an out-of-court settlement (=an agreement made to avoid a court case)
The army denied liability but agreed on an out-of-court settlement.
■ phrases
▪ the terms of a settlement
Under the terms of the settlement, the company will pay an undisclosed sum as compensation.