entitlement
noun
en·ti·tle·ment
in-ˈtī-tᵊl-mənt 
en-
1
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
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
Don’t frame the conversation around speed or entitlement.
—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Trump has overturned many long-standing public-policy commitments of conservatives—supporting free trade, reforming entitlements, supporting foreign assistance to save lives and advance American interests, standing by NATO, and standing against Russian oppression at home and aggression abroad.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
In a study with 355 participants, the authors narrowed their list to 16 warning signs that predicted violence that occurred within six months — many of them having to do with entitlement, arrogance, control and emotional immaturity.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
When unfunded entitlements in Social Security, Medicare, and other long-term obligations are factored in, the true fiscal gap approaches $100 trillion — a figure consistent with analysis from Penn Wharton Budget Model director Kent Smetters, one of America’s foremost fiscal economists.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for entitlement
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Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Trump has overturned many long-standing public-policy commitments of conservatives—supporting free trade, reforming entitlements, supporting foreign assistance to save lives and advance American interests, standing by NATO, and standing against Russian oppression at home and aggression abroad.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
In a study with 355 participants, the authors narrowed their list to 16 warning signs that predicted violence that occurred within six months — many of them having to do with entitlement, arrogance, control and emotional immaturity.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
When unfunded entitlements in Social Security, Medicare, and other long-term obligations are factored in, the true fiscal gap approaches $100 trillion — a figure consistent with analysis from Penn Wharton Budget Model director Kent Smetters, one of America’s foremost fiscal economists.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for entitlement
Cite this Entry
“Entitlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entitlement. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal 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
National Law Journal2
: 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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