From Longman Business Dictionarysettlement dateˈsettlement date1FINANCE the day when investors must pay for shares etc they have agreed to buy, often three working days after the original agreementSYNACCOUNT DAYThe first dividend consists of the interest accrued (=gained) from the settlement date to the first payment date.2LAWCOMMERCEthe day when property or goods are sold and they legally belong to the buyerSYNCOMPLETION DATEThe contract allows the vendor (=person selling something) to withdraw any time up to and including the settlement date. → date