allowance

1 of 2

noun

al·​low·​ance ə-ˈlau̇-ən(t)s 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• portion
• share
• part
• quota
• proportion
• percentage
• allotment

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

The ordinance also increases the grave marker allowance for a veteran and the veteran’s spouse from $60 to $90. —Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025

Ask yourself how the allowance for more time for something to take shape will affect what happens down the road. —Karyn Gallant, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

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

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

Phrases Containing allowance

• make allowance for
• make no allowance for
• make some allowance for
• mileage allowance

Rhymes for allowance

• disallowance

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 

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