Settled

Settled is the past participle of settle and an adjective with several related meanings. As a verb, settle means to place something in a stable position, to come to rest, or to resolve a matter. It can also mean to pay what is owed. Common phrases include settle a dispute (reach an agreement), settle a debt (pay in full), settle in (establish residence in a place), and settle down (adopt a more stable, conventional life).

As a noun, settlement refers to a community where people live, ranging from a small village to a city, and to the act or process of establishing such a community. A place that has been inhabited for a long time and developed infrastructure may be described as settled. In legal or administrative contexts, a settlement is an agreement that resolves a dispute or claim, often ending litigation or creating a formal arrangement.

As an adjective, settled describes something resolved or decided: a settled matter, a settled question, or a settled law or precedent. It can also convey a sense of permanence or stability, such as a settled population or a settled, enduring situation. In immigration contexts, settled status refers to legal recognition of long-term residence in a country.

Etymology generally connects settled to the sense of placing something firmly or establishing it. The opposite is unsettled, indicating ongoing dispute, instability, or lack of permanence.

Usage notes: Settled implies finality or durability more often than not, whereas unsettled implies ongoing action, doubt, or instability. Examples: “The dispute was settled out of court.” “They settled in a coastal town.”