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Synonyms

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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to supply (something) in limited amounts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
allowance More Idioms  

Other Word Forms

  • preallowance noun
  • superallowance noun

Etymology

Origin of allowance

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And on an annual basis, players competing in either qualifying or the main draw receive additional allowances from the Grand Slams.

From BBC

Under the wear and tear allowance, they have been able to reduce their amount of taxable income by 10% to cover the effects.

From BBC

When you make allowances for paying less payroll and income tax, finally get rid of your mortgage and reduce your day-to-day traveling expenses, you will hopefully cut at least 20% each month.

From MarketWatch

Football Association rules state that "all items of jewellery are forbidden and must be removed", with no allowances made.

From BBC

On Sunday, the government announced a monthly allowance for every citizen to alleviate economic pressure, equivalent to around 3.5 percent of the average monthly wage.

From Barron's