1
: something (such as a portion of receipts or production) that is set aside for a specified purpose
2
: a program requiring a percentage of opportunities (as for jobs or funding) to be reserved for an underrepresented group

Examples of set-aside in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Current federal government housing programs often provide low-cost housing for a privileged few through subsidies and set-asides but do not solve the larger problem of affordability. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024 The fossil fuel industry has fought against protections for this species — including set-asides that would create safe zones in whale habitat and common-sense speed limits to keep whales from getting run over. Cara Fleischer, Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2024 Last week, Mayor Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams announced a $741 million set-aside to raise the pay for tens of thousands of social services workers who are inextricably linked to, but not technically part of, the city’s municipal services apparatus. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2024 The 8-30g law requires developers to commit to those set-asides for at least 40 years. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Mar. 2024 The authors note that a set-aside requirement would have limited practical impact at many campuses because enrollment declines have already left many seats empty. Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2024 Even more controversial has been the state’s year-old Live Local Act, which overrides local zoning rules in commercial and industrial districts to encourage developers to supersize projects that include certain set-asides for middle-class housing. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024 There are also set-aside times a year for adult-only bookings. Madison Roberts, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024 The law allocated most of the money to permanent housing, with set-asides for unique populations like families and youth, and some for shelter. Mallory Moench, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'set-aside.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of set-aside was in 1943

Dictionary Entries Near set-aside

Cite this Entry

“Set-aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set-aside. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

set aside

transitive verb
1
: to disagree with and overturn (a decision or act of a lower tribunal) upon review : overrule, vacate
set aside the decree
2
: to deprive of legal effect or force : annul, void
may set aside the contract

More from Merriam-Webster on set-aside

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