quota

[ kwoh-tuh ]

noun

1. the share or proportional part of a total that is required from, or is due or belongs to, a particular district, state, person, group, etc.

   Synonyms: allocation, apportionment, allotment

2. a proportional part or share of a fixed total amount or quantity.
3. the number or percentage of persons of a specified kind permitted to enroll in a college, join a club, immigrate to a country, etc.

quota

/ ˈkwəʊtə /

noun

1. the proportional share or part of a whole that is due from, due to, or allocated to a person or group
2. a prescribed number or quantity, as of items to be manufactured, imported, or exported, immigrants admitted to a country, or students admitted to a college

Word History and Origins

Origin of quota¹

1660–70; < Medieval Latin, short for Latin quota pars how great a part?

Word History and Origins

Origin of quota¹

C17: from Latin quota pars how big a share?, from quotus of what number

Example Sentences

Norway started the movement in 2003 with a 40% female quota for corporate boards, and since then countries like Spain, Israel, Kenya, Portugal, and Germany have followed suit with their own quotas.

From Fortune

His findings encouraged Congress to set quotas to limit the immigration of so-called “inferior” national groups from places like Russia, Poland and Italy.

From Washington Post

Sudan received more people in three weeks from Tigray than the United States is willing to take as its quota of refugees in a year.

From Vox

If you don’t meet that quota, they’re gonna get you out of there.

From Vox

Still, one of the biggest worries about board quotas—that directorships will go to “token” women who are under-qualified—didn’t materialize.

From Fortune

Starting in the 1970s, then MPAA president Jack Valenti began what was to become a decades-long fight against the quota system.

From The Daily Beast

In response to the screen quota cut, South Korea established a “cinema tax” on the box office.

From The Daily Beast

Despite the financial remedy, partial repeal of the screen quota has imperiled the domestic market.

From The Daily Beast

Supported by Washington, the domestic quota was cut from 90 days to 30.

From The Daily Beast

I am fighting that quota because I am an advocate of competition.

From The Daily Beast

But we could not, because, once we had given a fair quota to the left, there was not enough stuff in our lockers for the right.

From Project Gutenberg

Every pantry, turkey-roost, and hog-pen in the dear old State was called upon to furnish its quota for the feast.

From Project Gutenberg

His guests were always ready to laugh at his words and add their quota to the sum of vituperation.

From Project Gutenberg

He had brought with him three hundred Spartans, as the quota furnished by that city.

From Project Gutenberg

Each salesman is given a monthly quota—based on salary, territory, and previous sales—which he is expected to reach.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• allocation
• allotment
• allowance
• measure