settler, settlor

The words settler, settlor sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Why do settler, settlor sound the same even though they are completely different words?

The answer is simple: settler, settlor are homophones of the English language.

settler
  1. :: noun

    One who settles in a new region.

  2. :: noun

    One who settles or decides something.

settlor
  1. :: noun

    One that makes a business or financial settlement or a settlement of property.

Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition and Wordnik.

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About Homophones

Homophones (literally "same sound") are usually defined as words that share the same pronunciation, regardless of how they are spelled.

If they are spelled the same then they are also homographs (and homonyms); if they are spelled differently then they are also heterographs (literally "different writing").