entitlement

noun

en·​ti·​tle·​ment in-ˈtī-tᵊl-mənt 

en-

1

a

: 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

Synonyms of entitlement

• subsidy
• grant
• allotment
• appropriation

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

Not ambition, not entitlement, not a list of demands — a person who had already lowered the ask to its floor, from a career to a chance to begin, and still wasn't sure the door would open. — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

However, Leo’s shadow can show up as a mix of defensiveness, entitlement or an excessive attachment to validation. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

After months of negotiation, Gaudenzi and the other stakeholders worked out a penalty system for players who skipped tournaments, which would dock a percentage of bonus-pool entitlement per event. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Anna’s attitude speaks to the jealousy that fuels the movie’s wider narrative – Jack is adored, largely inappropriately, by all the members of his family – while his father’s probing highlights a warped sense of entitlement. — CNN Money, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Legal Definition

entitlement

noun

en·​ti·​tle·​ment

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