entitlement

noun

en·​ti·​tle·​ment in-ˈtī-tᵊl-mənt 

en-

1

a

: the state or condition of being entitled : right

b

: a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract

2

: belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges

3

: a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group

also : funds supporting or distributed by such a program

Synonyms of entitlement

• subsidy
• grant
• allotment
• appropriation

Examples of entitlement in a Sentence

my entitlement to a refund

celebrities who have an arrogant sense of entitlement

entitlements such as medical aid for the elderly and poor

Recent Examples on the Web

Its name is a satirical critique of unchecked male entitlement. — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Aug. 2026

In complex agentic systems, low-privilege agents often interact with highly privileged agents, as well as humans with varying levels of entitlement. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

The entitlement programs making up much of the budget were designed under 20th-century demographic expectations that no longer hold true. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2026

Given the relatively junior legal priority of much of Arizona’s share of the river, a cut of such a size could eliminate nearly 75% of the state’s entitlement, Buschatzke said. — Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Legal Definition

entitlement

noun

en·​ti·​tle·​ment

1

: the state or condition of being entitled : claim

evidence of victim's entitlement to money seized

—National Law Journal

2

: a right to benefits that is granted especially by law or contract (as an insurance policy)

Note: Some courts have held that entitlements are a property interest and therefore subject to procedural due process under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution when denied by federal or state governments.

3

: a government program that provides benefits to members of a group that has a statutory entitlement

also : the benefits distributed by such a program