Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Settlement has 8 different meanings across 1 category:
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
"the American colony in Paris"
a community of people smaller than a town
"After years of wandering, they finally found a quiet settlement nestled in the valley where they could build their homes and raise families."
a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it
"The company accepted the plaintiff's offer, resulting in a settlement that ended the lawsuit without going to trial."
the act of colonizing; the establishment of colonies
"the British colonization of America"
something settled or resolved; the outcome of decision making
"they finally reached a settlement with the union"
"they never did achieve a final resolution of their differences"
"he needed to grieve before he could achieve a sense of closure"
an area where a group of families live together
"After years of traveling across the desert, the weary pioneers finally established their settlement in the fertile valley."
termination of a business operation by using its assets to discharge its liabilities
"The company announced that it would reach settlement by liquidating all its remaining inventory and equipment to pay off the outstanding debts."
The act of settling.
"The community celebrated after years of settlement finally brought peace to the region."
In plain English: A settlement is when people agree to end a disagreement by making a deal instead of fighting it out.
"The town became a peaceful settlement where farmers could live in safety."
The word settlement is formed by adding the suffix -ment to the verb settle. It entered English as a noun meaning an act of settling or establishing a place where people live.