Cool MateImmigrant vs Settler
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Immigrant
Top 2,000 (common)B1noun
Settler
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B2noun
Most common: Immigrant
| Immigrant | Settler | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪmɪɡrənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪmɪɡrənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsetlə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsetlər/"]/ |
| Meaning | A person who comes to live in a country from another country. | A person who moves to a new place to live. |
| Example | The immigrant came to the country seeking a better life. | Most of the settlers came from England. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | illegal, undocumented, legal, flood, influx, tide, accept, welcome, attract, arrive, enter something, move to something, community, family, generation, immigrant from, immigrant to | early, first, original, attract, arrive, come, move in, settler from, settler in |
| Antonyms | emigrant | migrant, expatriate |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'emigrant', which refers to someone leaving a country., Using 'immigrant' as a verb., Overgeneralizing experiences of immigrants without considering individual stories. | Confusing 'settler' with 'colonizer' which has a more negative connotation., Using 'settler' to describe someone who travels temporarily, rather than someone who establishes a permanent residence., Not knowing that 'settler' often refers to individuals in specific historical contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'immigrant' when talking about someone who moves to a different country. It is neutral and can be used in formal or informal contexts. Avoid using it to stereotype or make assumptions about a person's background. | Use 'settler' mainly in historical or geographical contexts. It may not be appropriate in discussions about current immigration, where terms like 'immigrant' or 'refugee' are more accurate. |
Frequently asked questions: Immigrant vs Settler
What's the difference between Immigrant and Settler?
Immigrant: A person who comes to live in a country from another country. Settler: A person who moves to a new place to live.
Which is more common: Immigrant and Settler?
Immigrant is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Immigrant and Settler?
Settler is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Immigrant and Settler the same CEFR level?
Immigrant: B1, Settler: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Immigrant and Settler?
Immigrant: noun, Settler: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Immigrant: The immigrant came to the country seeking a better life. Settler: Most of the settlers came from England.
Can I use Immigrant and Settler interchangeably?
Not always. Immigrant and Settler are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.