quota

noun

quo·​ta ˈkwō-tə 

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

Synonyms

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

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

Homegrown quota is invaluable in the years to come, especially if Sean Longstaff leaves? —Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025

This has been achieved even with year-over-year legal cost takeout quotas. —Mark A. Cohen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

The show’s title plays off the Hart Cellar Act, which abolished immigrant quotas for some and paved the way for more immigrant professionals to settle in the U.S. —Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025

Customers are also not allowed to buy more than one quota bag a year. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin quota pars how great a part

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for quota

• chota
• cota
• biota
• iota
• lakota
• nonquota
• ricotta

Kids 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