allocation

noun

al·​lo·​ca·​tion ˌa-lə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce allocation (audio)
plural allocations
Synonyms of allocationnext
1
archaic : the action of putting or adding one thing to another
2
: the action of apportioning : apportionment for specific purposes or to particular persons or organizations: such as
a
in accounting : the apportionment of costs and expenses to accounts according to some arbitrary rule
b
: apportionment as a governmental or economic control measure
the allocation of resources in a war economy
3
: a governmental or economic apportioning schedule or an assignment in it
materials now on allocation
4
: the amount allocated to one sharer
5
law, British : a procedure for determining whether a defendant should be tried in a magistrates's court or sent to a Crown Court for trial
allocational
ˌa-lə-ˈkā-shnəl
-shə-nᵊl
adjective
… public education is seen as a service that is provided to every child and is, thus, allocational in nature … Louise Adler, The Politics of Linking Schools and Social Services, 1994
allocational efficiency

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin allocation-, allocatio, from allocatus + Latin -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of allocation was in 1535

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Cite this Entry

“Allocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allocation. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.

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