settlement

/ˈsetlmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsetlmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈse-tᵊl-mənt/ (ame, mw)

settlement — 名詞

  • settlementsingular
  • settlementsplural

1. a formal arrangement in which opposing sides accept terms that resolve what they

1.名詞C1
釋義

協議；和解

結束爭議的正式協議

a formal arrangement in which opposing sides accept terms that resolve what they were arguing about

例句

After weeks of talks, the union and the company finally reached a settlement.

經過數週談判，工會與公司終於達成了一項協議。

collocation: reach a settlement

The two countries signed a peace settlement to end the border dispute.

兩國簽署了一項和平協議，以結束邊界爭端。

collocation: peace settlement

同義詞
  • agreement

    more general; any shared understanding, not just dispute-ending

  • resolution

    focuses on the act of solving the problem rather than the resulting document

  • compromise

    implies each side gives up something; a settlement may not require concessions from both

反義詞
  • disagreement

    the state that a settlement is meant to end

  • deadlock

    a situation where no progress or settlement is possible

用法筆記

Often countable (C) when referring to a specific agreement, uncountable (U) in general contexts like 'negotiate settlement'.

常見錯誤

❌We made a settlement to meet at 3 pm.
✅We made an arrangement to meet at 3 pm.
💡'settlement' implies resolving a dispute, not a casual plan.

2. an arrangement that resolves a legal conflict without a trial, sometimes includi

2.名詞C2
釋義

庭外和解

不上法庭的法律糾紛解決方案

an arrangement that resolves a legal conflict without a trial, sometimes including a sum of money given by one side to the other

例句

The company agreed to a $2 million settlement to avoid a lengthy trial.

該公司同意支付兩百萬美元的和解金，以避免冗長的審判。

amount + settlement: specifies the sum paid

Tara's lawyer negotiated a confidential settlement with the other party.

Tara 的律師與對方協商達成了一份保密和解協議。

同義詞
  • payout

    focuses on the money received; less formal

  • compensation

    broader; can be court-ordered, not necessarily agreed out of court

  • out-of-court agreement

    more explicit about the legal setting, less common as a single word

反義詞
  • trial

    the court proceeding that a settlement avoids

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (SETTLE DISPUTE): sense 2 specifically involves an actual or potential lawsuit and a payment or compensation. Countable (C) only.

常見錯誤

❌They reached a legal settlement outside the store.
✅They reached a legal settlement outside of court.
💡the phrase 'outside of court' or 'out of court' is the standard expression, not 'outside the store.'

3. a location where a group moves to and makes their homes, often somewhere with fe

3.名詞C2
釋義

定居點；拓墾

人們建立家園的地點或過程

a location where a group moves to and makes their homes, often somewhere with few earlier residents, or the act of creating such a community

例句

The first European settlement in the area was founded in 1788.

該地區的第一個歐洲定居點成立於 1788 年。

historical settlement: first + place + founded

Noor grew up in a small settlement of about two hundred families near the river.

Noor 在河邊一個約兩百戶人家的小村落長大。

同義詞
  • colony

    implies control by a distant country; stronger political meaning

  • community

    more general; any group living together, not necessarily newly established

  • village

    a type of settlement, usually smaller and more rural

反義詞
  • wilderness

    an undeveloped area before any settlement occurs

用法筆記

Countable (C) when referring to a specific place or community; uncountable (U) when describing the process ('the settlement of the interior').

常見錯誤

❌I moved to a new settlement last week.
✅I moved to a new neighbourhood last week.
💡'settlement' implies a newly established community in an area, not simply a residential area in a city.

4. the act of paying money that is owed to someone, or the payment itself

4.名詞
釋義

結算；清償

支付所欠款項的行為

the act of paying money that is owed to someone, or the payment itself

例句

The bank processed the settlement of all outstanding debts.

銀行處理了所有未償債務的結算。

settlement of [debts/accounts]

Anna made a full settlement of her credit card balance before the due date.

Anna 在到期日前全額結清了她的信用卡餘額。

full settlement: paying the entire amount owed

同義詞
  • payment

    more general; any transfer of money

  • repayment

    specifically paying back money that was borrowed

  • clearance

    focuses on the completion of a financial transaction, often in banking

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently used in financial contexts such as banking, accounting, and billing. 'Full settlement' means paying everything owed; 'partial settlement' means paying part of it.

常見錯誤

❌I made a settlement at the supermarket.
✅I made a payment at the supermarket.
💡'settlement' refers to formal or large-scale financial transactions, not everyday purchases.

5. the gradual downward movement of a building's base, a man-made structure, or a s

5.名詞
釋義

沉降

建築物或地層緩慢下沉的過程

the gradual downward movement of a building's base, a man-made structure, or a stretch of land

例句

The old house suffered from foundation settlement after the earthquake.

這棟老房子在地震後出現了地基沉降。

foundation settlement: sinking of a building's base

Engineers measured the settlement of the bridge supports over several years.

工程師多年來持續測量橋墩的沉降情況。

同義詞
  • subsidence

    broader term; can be caused by mining or natural processes, not just slow sinking

  • sinking

    simpler word; less technical, can describe any downward movement

反義詞
  • uplift

    upward movement of the ground; opposite of sinking

用法筆記

Uncountable (U) only. A technical term in civil engineering and construction — not used in everyday conversation. 'Differential settlement' refers to parts of a structure sinking at different rates.

常見錯誤

❌The city settlement caused the building to lean.
✅Ground settlement caused the building to lean.
💡'city settlement' could be misunderstood as a community; use 'ground settlement' or 'foundation settlement' for clarity.