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

1 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 followed by 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.

3 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 followed by of

• The rifle played a big role in the early settlement of North America.

3 c [count] : a small village

• They came upon the ruins of an ancient settlement.