settler

noun

set·​tler ˈse-tᵊl-ər How to pronounce settler (audio)
ˈset-lər
Synonyms of settlernext
1
: one that settles something
a settler of disputes
2
: someone who settles in a new region or colony
the first settlers of New England

Synonyms of settler

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Examples of settler in a Sentence

settlers learning to live in peace with the natives in 1889 Jane Addams, in an effort to provide Chicago's latest wave of settlers with much-needed services, founded the city's first settlement house
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2016, the United Nations counted a hundred and seven settler attacks that damaged Palestinian property, caused Palestinian casualties, or both. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 Netanyahu’s hard-line government has been accused of turning a blind eye to the settler attacks in the West Bank, which many governments around the world consider illegally occupied. — F. Brinley Bruton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026 Originally the homeland of the Ohlone Indians, the Mission was taken over by Spanish settlers in the 1700s and so named after the Catholic church at its center, now known as Mission Dolores. — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 Branly Cadet will research, design, and sculpt a bronze statue of du Sable, Chicago's first permanent non-native settler. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for settler

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of settler was in 1598

Phrases Containing settler

Browse Nearby Words

settle on/upon (something)
settler
settler's-clock
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Cite this Entry

“Settler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/settler. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

settler

noun
set·​tler ˈset-lər How to pronounce settler (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
: a person who settles in a new region : colonist
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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