allowance

1 of 2

noun

al·​low·​ance ə-ˈlau̇-ən(t)s How to pronounce allowance (audio)
1
a
: a sum granted as a reimbursement or bounty or for expenses
a salary that includes a cost-of-living allowance
especially : a sum regularly provided for personal or household expenses
Each child receives a weekly allowance.
b
: a fixed or available amount
provide an allowance of time for recreation
c
: a share or portion allotted or granted
d
: a reduction from a list price or stated price
a trade-in allowance
2
: the act of regarding bad behavior or a mistake as less serious or bad because of some special circumstance
Some allowance should be made for her inexperience.
The plan makes no allowance for bad weather.
3
: the act of allowing something : permission
4
: an allowed dimensional difference between mating parts of a machine
5
: an imposed handicap (as in a horse race)

allowance

2 of 2

verb

allowanced; allowancing

transitive verb

1
archaic : to put on a fixed allowance (as of food and drink)
2
archaic : to supply in a fixed or regular quantity

Examples of allowance in a Sentence

Noun a monthly allowance for household expenses Each of their children gets a weekly allowance of five dollars. the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C the tax allowance for married couples They performed poorly, but allowances should be made for their inexperience.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In previous years, IATSE has prioritized touchpoints like wage increases and higher living allowances for nearby and distant hires. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 Other moves by the government to address the country’s demographic challenges, include a tripling of monthly allowances for parents of newborns and a reduction of mortgage interest rates. Sam Kim, Fortune Asia, 28 Feb. 2024 This includes equal pay, lifestyle spending allowances, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and comprehensive maternity leave policies. Sarah Dant, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Those with agendas wish to make the CROWN Act a blanket allowance of student expression. Char Adams, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024 Those commitments included raising the parental leave allowance from six to 10 weeks, guaranteeing union representation for faculty when interacting with campus police, improving access to lactation spaces and gender-inclusive restrooms and providing support for lecturer engagement in service work. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 20 Feb. 2024 Back in the day, parents sent money to different cafés, innkeepers or restaurants around Heidelberg weekly so that the students wouldn’t spend their allowance all at once. Yolanda Evans, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024 In children’s literature, where subliminal messaging can be an art form, the message here is an allowance for the full spectrum of emotions. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Lawmakers currently make $24,000 per year, with per diem allowances for lawmakers living outside of Maricopa County. The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
Saladino recommends adding in foods by increasing your macros allowance a little bit at a time. Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 30 Jan. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English allowaunce, allouance "commendation, confirmation (of a privilege), allocation of funds," borrowed from Anglo-French alouance, allowance "admission as legally valid, allocation, payment," from aluer, aloer "to place, allot, accept as legally valid" + -ance -ance — more at allow

Verb

derivative of allowance entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Verb

1758, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of allowance was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near allowance

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

allowance

noun
al·​low·​ance
ə-ˈlau̇-ən(t)s
1
a
: a share or portion given out
b
: a sum given
gets a weekly allowance
an allowance for expenses
c
: a reduction from a stated price
a trade-in allowance on a car
2
: an allowed difference between parts that fit together in a machine
3
: the act of allowing : permission
4
: an allowing for things that may partly excuse an offense or mistake or for things that may happen
make allowance for age

Legal Definition

allowance

noun
al·​low·​ance ə-ˈlau̇-əns How to pronounce allowance (audio)
1
: an allotted share: as
a
: a sum granted as a reimbursement or payment for expenses
an allowance to support the deceased's family
deduction for a moving allowance
b
: a sum granted as a reduction or increase
an allowance for depreciation
2
: an act of allowing
allowance of a deduction

More from Merriam-Webster on allowance

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