Settlers built grand minarets (9)
I believe the answer is:
emigrants
'settlers' is the definition.
(people who settle in a different country)
'built grand minarets' is the wordplay.
'built' indicates an anagram (the same letters can be used to build the answer).
'grand' becomes 'g' (synonyms).
'g'+'minarets'='gminarets'
'gminarets' with letters rearranged gives 'EMIGRANTS'.
(Other definitions for emigrants that I've seen before include "They leave home for St Germain" , "People leaving their home in St Germain" .)