resettlement
ree-SET-l-muhnt
/riːˈsetlmənt/
The settlement of people in a different place, especially as part of an organized plan or policy after displacement.
Resettlement implies an organized, institutional process—often managed by governments or the UN—to help refugees or displaced people establish permanent, safe lives in a third country.
The story behind the word. This word combines the Latin prefix 're-' (again) with the old Germanic root for 'settling' or 'sitting down.' It paints a picture of someone who has been shaken up and forced to stand, finally being allowed to sit down and rest once more in a safe place.
Word relationships
- relocation: Relocation can refer to any move (like a company moving its offices), while resettlement specifically implies establishing a new life after being displaced.
- rehabilitation: Rehabilitation focuses on restoring health, rights, or livelihood, whereas resettlement is specifically about physical housing and geographical integration.
- displacement: Displacement is the forced removal from a home, whereas resettlement is the organized process of establishing a new, stable home.
Commonly confused with
- colonization: Colonization involves taking control of an area and its people, whereas resettlement is typically a humanitarian or administrative effort to house displaced individuals safely.
Word family
- resettle (verb): To settle in a new place, or to help others do so.
Collocations
- resettlement program
- refugee resettlement
- forceful resettlement
- resettlement agency
Example sentences
- "The UN refugee agency coordinated the resettlement of vulnerable families from temporary border camps to permanent homes in Canada." UN refugee operations.
- "Following the volcanic eruption, the government initiated a massive resettlement program to move entire villages away from the danger zone." Post-natural disaster planning.
Memory hook
Re-settlement: Settling down all over again. An organized plan to settle again.
When not to use
Do not use for a casual move across town or buying a new house on your own initiative.
Fun facts
- Fewer than 1% of the world's refugees are ever submitted for resettlement to third countries due to limited quotas offered by host nations.
Related words
Explore more words
settle, migration, repatriation, immigrate, redistribution, exile
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