posyolok

Posyolok (Russian: посёлок; translit. posyolok) is a term used in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and other post-Soviet states to denote a type of inhabited locality. The word comes from the verb поселиться, "to settle," and is typically applied to a populated place that is smaller than a town. Posyoloks often have some infrastructure and may be tied to a particular economic activity, such as agriculture, industry, or transportation.

In Russia and some other countries, posyolok divides into two main forms: rural-type settlements (посёлок сельского типа) and urban-type settlements (посёлок городского типа). Rural-type posyoloks generally arise near farms, forestry enterprises, or along roads and retain a predominantly rural character. Urban-type settlements have more developed urban features, such as a concentration of industry, housing, and services, and while they are not cities, they constitute a separate administrative category within districts.

Administrative status varies by country and over time. In Russia, for example, a posyolok can be part of a municipal formation called a rural or urban settlement, and its exact governance depends on regional law. In Ukraine and Belarus, the term is used similarly, though the precise definitions and boundaries differ.

In English-language references, posyolok is commonly translated as "settlement" or "rural settlement"; "urban-type settlement" is used for the urban form. The transliteration may appear as posiolok or posyolok depending on language conventions.