allotment

[ uh-lot-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act of allotting.
2. a portion or thing allotted; a share granted.

   Synonyms: ration, lot, measure

3. (in U.S. military use) the portion of pay that an officer or enlisted person authorizes to be paid directly to another person, as a dependent, or an institution, as an insurance company.
4. British. a plot of land rented to a gardener.

allotment

/ əˈlɒtmənt /

noun

1. the act of allotting; apportionment
2. a portion or amount allotted
3. a small piece of usually public land rented by an individual for cultivation

Other Words From

• misal·lotment noun
• nonal·lotment noun
• proal·lotment adjective
• real·lotment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of allotment¹

First recorded in 1565–75; allot + -ment; compare French allotement

Example Sentences

The pair had an allotment nearby where they grew their own vegetables.

From BBC

They will try to improve efficiency, there could be cuts, and charges may rise, including the rent paid by allotment holders.

From BBC

“Nobody became a councillor because they wanted to put up allotment fees, or build on Sites of Nature Conservation Interest, or a host of other things,” said Mr Dyer.

From BBC

But it was a more helpful allotment of a few minutes than it might have appeared to be.

From Slate

“The older you get, time allotment is very different. Five months out of your life is a lot. And so it’s not just like, ‘Oh, I’m going to go do a really good film, like ‘Three Kings,’ and I’m going to have a miserable f— like David O. Russell making my life hell.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allocation
• allowance
• appropriation
• quota
• ration