allocation

[al-uh-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of allocating; apportionment.

2. the state of being allocated.

3. the share or portion allocated.

4. Accounting.,  a system of dividing expenses and incomes among the various branches, departments, etc., of a business.

Other Word Forms

• allocative adjective
• deallocation noun
• reallocation noun
• suballocation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of allocation¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin allocātiōn- (stem of allocātiō ), equivalent to allocāt(us) ( allocate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

This arrangement represented poor resource allocation during a time when public safety demands are high.

From Los Angeles Times

"As the allocation is on an annual basis, it is difficult to have an ongoing planned maintenance programme for our schools," they said.

From BBC

The storm remains a reminder of the intersection between climate risk, resource allocation and the ongoing need for robust federal support to protect communities.

From Salon

Administration officials have defended the cuts by pointing to what they call wasteful allocations, with their ire particularly focused on climate programs and projects promoting what they call liberal social values.

From Salon

A new round of state subsidies for zero-emission vehicles would likely require state lawmakers to introduce new legislation or to create a specific allocation for that purpose in California’s budget bill next year.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allotment 
• appropriation 
• quota 
• share