allowance

American  

[uh-lou-uhns] / əˈlaʊ əns /

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.

9. Coining. tolerance.

---

verb (used with object)

allowanced, allowancing

1. to place on a fixed allowance, as of food or drink.

2. to allocate (supplies, rations, etc.) in fixed or regular amounts.

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.

allowance British  

/ 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. (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

allowance More Idioms  

1. see make allowance.

---

Other Word Forms

• preallowance noun
• superallowance noun

Etymology

Origin of allowance

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

Explanation

When you're a kid, you might earn an allowance or a sum of money in exchange for doing chores around the house. Your parents' allowance — or tolerance — of your silly behavior will depend on how strict they are. An allowance is a quantity of something that's allowed or permitted within a set of rules or for a particular purpose. This could be a weekly allowance you earn as a kid, or it could be the allowance for passengers on a flight to have two carry-on items. To make allowances for someone means to treat someone leniently, or to give them a break.

Example Sentences

If wedding guests exceed this limit in their gift to the couple, they must file a Form 709 — although there is a total lifetime tax-free gift allowance of $13.99 million.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

Every adult in the UK has a personal allowance of £12,570 on which they don't pay any income tax.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Paul Cézanne had an allowance that allowed him to paint, while Theo van Gogh helped to support his brother Vincent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The UK government, which provides the allowance, has been asked to comment.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

With an allowance of fifteen dollars a month for mowing the lawn every week.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

Related Words

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