1
: something (such as a portion of receipts or production) that is set aside for a specified purpose
2
: a program requiring a percentage of opportunities (as for jobs or funding) to be reserved for an underrepresented group

Examples of set-aside in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are also set-aside times a year for adult-only bookings. Madison Roberts, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024 The law allocated most of the money to permanent housing, with set-asides for unique populations like families and youth, and some for shelter. Mallory Moench, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 May 2023 The move will expand the police set-asides from 100 to 150 beds. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2023 The teachers’ union is also pushing for more time for professional development and grading, saying current set-asides are among the metro area’s lowest. oregonlive, 1 Sep. 2023 Governments and advocates are left with the small bargaining chips of incentives and a little leverage from zoning variances that lead to poor-door set-asides, some of which — like this one — yield results. Curbed, 1 Aug. 2023 Timing of embarking on an EB-5 project is important, for example, these set-asides are available this year but may not be in future years. Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'set-aside.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of set-aside was in 1943

Dictionary Entries Near set-aside

Cite this Entry

“Set-aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set-aside. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

set aside

transitive verb
1
: to disagree with and overturn (a decision or act of a lower tribunal) upon review : overrule, vacate
set aside the decree
2
: to deprive of legal effect or force : annul, void
may set aside the contract

More from Merriam-Webster on set-aside

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