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

The speed and scale of AI transformation is accelerating at a time when the country is deeply divided about education, entitlements, and the role of government. —Diane Brady, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026

One is Medicaid, a federal entitlement program run in partnership with states. —Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026

Unlike discretionary grants, these programs are mandatory entitlements under federal law. —Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026

Don’t frame the conversation around speed or entitlement. —Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 24 Mar. 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