entitlement

noun

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en·ti·tle·ment | \ in-ˈtī-tᵊl-mənt

, en- \

Definition of entitlement

1a : 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

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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 What is striking about the videos, though, is how often this entitlement is laced with insecurity. — Alec Macgillis, ProPublica, "Inside the Capitol Riot: What the Parler Videos Reveal," 17 Jan. 2021 Where conservative politics formerly wrapped that entitlement in layers of facile meritocratic rhetoric and free-market mysticism, Trumpism more aptly made his demands at gunpoint. — David Roth, The New Republic, "How Don Jr. Became the Future of Trumpism," 27 Oct. 2020 Meanwhile, congressional Republicans, angered by the president’s unilateral actions, resolved not to compromise with Obama on any legislation whatsoever — on Iran, immigration, or entitlement spending. — Jay Cost, Washington Examiner, "Biden's Kitchen Cabinet," 31 Dec. 2020 Forget it, even though no marginally responsible administration could let another four years pass without restraining entitlement spending. — Dan Mclaughlin, National Review, "I Was ‘Never Trump’ in 2016. I’m Still a Conservative. Here’s How I’m Voting," 2 Nov. 2020 The city is set to reimburse the Shodeen Family Foundation half of the $273,400 cost of the public session and entitlement process since a preferred concept was not approved by the City Council. — Linda Girardi, chicagotribune.com, "Future of former Mill Race Inn site in Geneva up in the air after residential development rejected," 10 Dec. 2020 To cultivate agency and autonomy, Thornhill says, parents should be more explicit about a young woman’s entitlement to comfort, safety and pleasure in their own bodies. — Washington Post, "Black teens talk about dating in White communities," 27 Nov. 2020 Japan's period leave entitlement has existed for more than 70 years, and the country isn't alone in Asia in having such a policy. — Julia Hollingsworth, CNN, "Should women be entitled to period leave? These countries think so," 20 Nov. 2020 American self-conception, that wobbly construct, has long depended on a good amount of delusional entitlement: the necessity to dream, to just do it! — Megan O’grady, New York Times, "How ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ Foretold Our Era of Grifting," 12 Nov. 2020

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

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Last Updated

7 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Entitlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entitlement. Accessed 18 Feb. 2021.

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More Definitions for entitlement

entitlement

noun

English Language Learners Definition of entitlement

: the condition of having a right to have, do, or get something

: the feeling or belief that you deserve to be given something (such as special privileges)

US : a type of financial help provided by the government for members of a particular group

See the full definition for entitlement in the English Language Learners Dictionary

entitlement

noun

en·ti·tle·ment

Legal Definition of entitlement

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

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