1 a [count] : a formal agreement or decision that ends an argument or dispute
▪ I got the house in the divorce settlement. ▪ The parties have not been able to reach/negotiate a settlement in the case. ▪ an out-of-court settlement [=an agreement made to avoid a court case] ; also : an amount of money that someone receives as part of such an agreement
▪ a cash settlement ▪ a settlement of two million dollars = a two-million-dollar settlement
b [singular] : the act or process of settling an argument or disagreement
▪ We were hoping for a quick settlement of the dispute between the neighbors. 2 [noncount] : the act of paying back money that is owed — often + of ▪ the settlement of our debts ▪ He paid $20,000 in settlement of a loan. 3 a [count] : a place where people have come to live and where few or no people lived before
▪ English settlements in North America ▪ This was the island's first colonial settlement.
b [noncount] : the act or process of moving to a new area or place to live there : the act or process of settling an area or place — often + of ▪ The rifle played a big role in the early settlement of North America.
c [count] : a small village
▪ They came upon the ruins of an ancient settlement.