settlement
SET-uhl-muhnt
/ˈsetlmənt/
An official agreement intended to resolve a dispute or conflict; also, the payment of money to resolve a legal claim.
In a legal context, it specifically refers to resolving a case before it reaches a final verdict in court.
The story behind the word. From the idea of 'setting' something in place so it no longer moves or causes trouble. Just as you 'settle' into a chair, a 'settlement' allows a dispute to sit still and be finished.
Word relationships
- agreement: Agreement is broader; settlement implies that there was a pre-existing conflict being resolved.
- resolution: Resolution focuses on the solving of the problem; settlement focuses on the formal terms of that solution.
- disagreement: The state of not having reached a resolution.
- litigation: The process of taking a dispute to court rather than settling it.
Commonly confused with
- judgment: A settlement is agreed upon by the parties; a judgment is imposed by a judge.
Word family
- settle (verb): To reach an agreement or resolve a dispute.
Collocations
- out-of-court settlement
- reach a settlement
- divorce settlement
- final settlement
Example sentences
- "The tech giant reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the plaintiffs to avoid a public trial." Legal dispute
- "After weeks of strikes, both sides finally agreed on a settlement that included a 5% wage increase." Labor relations
Memory hook
When you reach a SETTLEMENT, the dust finally SETTLES on the argument. Letting the dust settle.
When not to use
Don't confuse this with a 'colony' or 'village' in this context, though the word can mean that too.
Fun facts
- The word 'settlement' can refer to a small village, a legal agreement, or the sinking of a building into the ground.
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