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Showing results for allowance. Search instead for allowancing.
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.

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

From BBC

The benefits ranged from universal credit, pension credit to carer's allowance and warm homes discount.

From BBC

Pakistan has introduced a shortened workweek, cut fuel allowances for public employees, and taken a majority of government vehicles off the road.

From Barron's

Someone over 25 on the basic allowance currently receives £400 a month but could add another £423 if they are assessed as being unable to work due to ill health.

From BBC

Your father made sure you earned your allowance, and you got your first sense of what it was like to contribute to the household and — critically — be a stakeholder.

From MarketWatch