allowance

[ uh-lou-uhns ]

noun

1. the act of allowing.
2. an amount or share allotted or granted.

   Synonyms: allotment

3. a sum of money allotted or granted for a particular purpose, as for expenses:

   Her allowance for the business trip was $200.

4. a sum of money allotted or granted to a person on a regular basis, as for personal or general living expenses:

   The art student lived on an allowance of $600 a month.

   When I was in first grade, my parents gave me an allowance of seven dollars a week.

   Synonyms: stipend

5. an addition or deduction based on an extenuating or qualifying circumstance:

   an allowance for profit;

   an allowance for depreciation.

6. acknowledgment; concession:

   the allowance of a claim.

7. passive permission resulting from lack of interference; toleration:

   the allowance of slavery.

   Synonyms: sufferance, permission, acceptance

   Antonyms: proscription, prohibition, interdiction

8. Machinery. a prescribed difference in dimensions of two closely fitting mating parts with regard to minimum clearance or maximum interference. Compare tolerance ( def 6a ).
9. Coining. tolerance ( def 7 ).

verb (used with object)

, al·low·anced, al·low·anc·ing.

1. to place on a fixed allowance, as of food or drink.
2. to allocate (supplies, rations, etc.) in fixed or regular amounts.

allowance

/ əˈlaʊəns /

noun

1. an amount of something, esp money or food, given or allotted usually at regular intervals
2. a discount, as in consideration for something given in part exchange or to increase business; rebate
3. (in Britain) an amount of a person's income that is not subject to a particular tax and is therefore deducted before his or her liability to taxation is assessed
4. a portion set aside to compensate for something or to cover special expenses
5. education a salary supplement given to a teacher who is appointed to undertake extra duties and responsibilities
6. admission; concession
7. the act of allowing; sanction; toleration
8. something allowed
9. make allowances or make allowance
   usually foll by for
   1. to take mitigating circumstances into account in consideration (of)
   2. to allow (for)

verb

1. tr to supply (something) in limited amounts

Other Words From

• pre·al·low·ance noun
• su·per·al·low·ance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of allowance¹

1350–1400; Middle English alouance < Middle French. See allow, -ance

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make allowance / allowances (for),
   1. to take mitigating factors or circumstances into consideration.
   2. to pardon; excuse.
   3. to reserve time, money, etc.; allow for:

      Make allowance for souvenirs on the return trip.

More idioms and phrases containing allowance

see make allowance .

Example Sentences

For service members, the proposal ensures the military housing allowance no longer counts against eligibility, while former foster youth would see restrictions eased to combat college hunger.

From Salon

An additional 50,000 pensioners will be living in relative poverty next year as a result of cuts to the winter fuel allowance, the government's own estimates have revealed.

From BBC

As a pensioner who claimed the attendance allowance, the entire £4,331 cost of the installation was covered by the Green Homes Grant scheme, which ran in England until 31 March 2021.

From BBC

Without it, a soldier can’t get full tuition and fees at a public university as well as a housing and books allowance — a sum that can easily reach $100,000.

From Los Angeles Times

He is also given a monthly allowance of £250 to support his living costs.

From BBC

Related Words

• aid
• alimony
• allocation
• allotment
• annuity
• contribution
• fee
• gift
• grant
• pension
• quota
• ration
• salary
• scholarship
• stipend
• subsidy
• wage