allowance

1 of 2

noun

al·​low·​ance ə-ˈlau̇-ən(t)s 

1

a

: a sum granted as a reimbursement or bounty or for expenses

a salary that includes a cost-of-living allowance

especially : a sum regularly provided for personal or household expenses

Each child receives a weekly allowance.

b

: a fixed or available amount

provide an allowance of time for recreation

c

: a share or portion allotted or granted

d

: a reduction from a list price or stated price

a trade-in allowance

2

: the act of regarding bad behavior or a mistake as less serious or bad because of some special circumstance

Some allowance should be made for her inexperience.

The plan makes no allowance for bad weather.

3

: the act of allowing something : permission

4

: an allowed dimensional difference between mating parts of a machine

5

: an imposed handicap (as in a horse race)

allowance

2 of 2

verb

allowanced; allowancing

transitive verb

1

archaic : to put on a fixed allowance (as of food and drink)

2

archaic : to supply in a fixed or regular quantity

Synonyms

Noun

• allotment
• cut
• end
• part
• piece
• portion
• proportion
• quota
• share
• slice
• take

Examples of allowance in a Sentence

Noun

a monthly allowance for household expenses

Each of their children gets a weekly allowance of five dollars.

the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C

the tax allowance for married couples

They performed poorly, but allowances should be made for their inexperience.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Also included were a 15% increase to retirement benefits and a 47% increase to meal allowance. —Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024

Now, the Daily Mail newspaper reports that King Charles has broken his brother’s financial ties, and instructed royal accountants to cease payments of this allowance. —Caroline Frost, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2024

Verb

Saladino recommends adding in foods by increasing your macros allowance a little bit at a time. —Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 30 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English allowaunce, allouance "commendation, confirmation (of a privilege), allocation of funds," borrowed from Anglo-French alouance, allowance "admission as legally valid, allocation, payment," from aluer, aloer "to place, allot, accept as legally valid" + -ance -ance — more at allow

Verb

derivative of allowance entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Verb

1758, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing allowance

• make allowance for
• make no allowance for
• make some allowance for
• mileage allowance

Kids Definition

allowance

noun

al·​low·​ance

ə-ˈlau̇-ən(t)s

1

a

: a share or portion given out

b

: a sum given

gets a weekly allowance

an allowance for expenses

c

: a reduction from a stated price

a trade-in allowance on a car

2

: an allowed difference between parts that fit together in a machine

3

: the act of allowing : permission

4

: an allowing for things that may partly excuse an offense or mistake or for things that may happen

make allowance for age

Legal Definition

allowance

noun

al·​low·​ance ə-ˈlau̇-əns 

1

: an allotted share: as

a

: a sum granted as a reimbursement or payment for expenses

an allowance to support the deceased's family

deduction for a moving allowance

b

: a sum granted as a reduction or increase

an allowance for depreciation

2

: an act of allowing

allowance of a deduction