Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

allotment

noun al·lot·ment \ ə-ˈlät-mənt \
|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Definition of allotment

1 : the act of allotting something : apportionment
  • The allotment of a full page in the newspaper to each candidate is fair.
2 : something that is allotted
  • an allotment of time
; especially, chiefly British : a plot of land let to an individual for cultivation

See allotment defined for English-language learners

See allotment defined for kids

Recent Examples of allotment from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'allotment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of allotment

see allot

allotment Synonyms

Synonyms

allowance, cut, end, part, piece, portion, proportion, quota, share, slice, take;

Near Antonyms

aggregate, composite, compound, pool, sum, total, totality;

whole;

Related Words

lot, ration;

commission, percentage;

member, partition, section, segment;

ALLOTMENT Defined for English Language Learners

allotment

noun

Definition of allotment for English Language Learners

  • : an amount of something given to someone to use or have

  • : the act of allotting something

  • : a small area of land that a person can rent to use as a garden

ALLOTMENT Defined for Kids

allotment

noun al·lot·ment \ ə-ˈlät-mənt \

Definition of allotment for Students

1 : the act of giving out as a share or portion
  • Her allotment of five minutes for a turn was fair.
2 : an amount of something that is given out as a share or portion
  • You get a large allotment of crayons.

Learn More about allotment

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for allotment Spanish Central: Translation of allotment Nglish: Translation of allotment for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up allotment? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

balmy

play

soothing, mild, or foolish

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

allotment

Test Your Vocabulary

Name More Food!

  • red-fruit
  • Name that Fruit!
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games