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.

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.

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. (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 Word Forms

• preallowance noun
• superallowance 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.

see make allowance.

Example Sentences

Asylum seekers are not generally permitted to work while their claims are being processed and get an allowance of £1.42 a day to live on.

Read more on BBC

That is despite progress in increasing hazards allowance over the years, Citi says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Those currently earning below the personal allowance of £12,571 will find, as wages rise but thresholds don't, they will pay tax for the first time.

Read more on BBC

But the personal allowance - the amount a person is allowed to earn before they start to pay tax - is set by Westminster.

Read more on BBC

In Wednesday's budget the chancellor announced spouses would be able to transfer any of their £1m allowance before inheritance tax kicks in between partners.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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