presettlement
adjective
pre·set·tle·ment
ˌprē-ˈse-tᵊl-mənt 
variants
or pre-settlement
1
: existing or occurring before occupation by settlers
the presettlement wildlife population
historical descriptions of presettlement forests
In presettlement times, heavily vegetated surroundings contributed small amounts of sediment and nutrients to these wetlands.—
Jon A. Kusler et al.
Jon A. Kusler et al.… a reasonable midpoint between the extremes of doing nothing and trying to return the bay to its presettlement condition.—Deborah S. Knopman and Megan M. Susman
Deborah S. Knopman and Megan M. Susman2
law
: existing or occurring before a settlement (see settlement sense 2a) is reached
a presettlement hearing/conference
She estimated that about 25 percent of presettlement loans result in a loss to the lender because the settlement did not come through.—Ken Belson
Ken BelsonExamples of presettlement in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The land that was here presettlement is gone. ...
—Susan Du, Star Tribune, 20 May 2021
By the 1990s, the presettlement population of about 10,000 iguanas had fallen to about 200.
—Murray Carpenter, BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2022
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.
Susan Du, Star Tribune, 20 May 2021
By the 1990s, the presettlement population of about 10,000 iguanas had fallen to about 200.
—Murray Carpenter, BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2022
Dictionary Entries Near presettlement
Cite this Entry
“Presettlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presettlement. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share