1
: a proportional part or share
especially
: the share or proportion assigned to each in a division or to each member of a body
2
: the number or amount constituting a proportional share
3
: a fixed number or percentage of minority group members or women needed to meet the requirements of affirmative action
Examples of quota in a Sentence
The agency imposes strict fishing quotas.
The company has imposed quotas on hiring.
He lost his driver's license because he exceeded the quota of traffic violations.
The department set new sales quotas in January.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tavares talked about one of the key issues for Brazilian producer and government alike, the creation of investment quotas for VOD players in Brazil, along the lines of those created in many E.U. states.
—
Marcelo Cajueiro, Variety, 29 May 2025
The statewide kill quota is 187, including 18 in Central Florida.
—South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2025
Despite boasting the most bears in the state, Central Florida’s kill quota is low because of weak population growth over the past decade.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 May 2025
For example, the law used race instead of nationality in its quotas of Asian countries, which only received 100 visas each year, the office said.
—Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for quota
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Marcelo Cajueiro, Variety, 29 May 2025
The statewide kill quota is 187, including 18 in Central Florida.
—South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2025
Despite boasting the most bears in the state, Central Florida’s kill quota is low because of weak population growth over the past decade.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 May 2025
For example, the law used race instead of nationality in its quotas of Asian countries, which only received 100 visas each year, the office said.
—Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for quota
Cite this Entry
“Quota.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quota. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quota
noun
quo·ta
ˈkwōt-ə 
1
: a share or part assigned to each member of a group
2
: the number or amount making up a quota
Legal Definition
quota
noun
quo·ta
ˈkwō-tə
1
: a proportional part or share assigned to each in a body
2
: a specific amount that serves as a minimum or maximum
a law against traffic ticket quotas
Etymology
Medieval Latin, from Latin quota pars how great a part
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