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Synonyms

resettlement

British  
/ riːˈsɛtəlmənt /

noun

    1. the act or instance of settling or being settled in another place

    2. ( as modifier )

      resettlement procedures

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Explanation

When people who have to leave their home country for their own safety get help moving to a new place, it's called resettlement. Refugees fleeing war can find security and comfort thanks to resettlement. Resettlement can simply mean "settling in a new place," but it almost always describes the assistance given to refugees by a government or other organization. People whose lives and freedom have been threatened at home because of war, disaster, or persecution can apply for asylum and go through the process of resettlement to make their homes in new countries. Sometimes this word is twisted, as when the Nazis described deporting German Jews to concentration camps as "resettlement to the East."

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“There’s a reason why we have a good reputation,” said Chris Ross, vice president of migration and refugee resettlement services at Catholic Charities.

From Salon • May 2, 2026

The State Department declined to confirm that DR Congo was being eyed as a destination but said the United States was looking at "voluntary resettlement" from the as-Sayliyah camp in Qatar.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Kirawa said the village is very remote and that residents had previously been displaced due to insecurity in Borno state, but "this is the first attack there after their resettlement by the government".

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

Hotak, 38, is an Afghan immigrant who served as a program manager at refugee resettlement organization Lao Family Community Development until layoffs due to federal cuts forced him out of work in May.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

A refugee resettlement office called the Joint Voluntary Agency opened a file on me, took my picture, and scheduled me for an interview.

From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau

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