Definition

Noun: 1. A sum of money given regularly or for a specific purpose: An amount of money provided, often on a recurring basis, to cover expenses or for personal use. 2. A permitted amount or quantity of something: A limited quantity of something that is officially allowed or granted. 3. A deduction or adjustment made for a specific reason: An amount subtracted or an exception made to account for a particular circumstance. 4. The act of allowing or permitting something: (Formal) The action of granting permission or tolerance for something.

Verb: 1. To provide with a fixed allowance: (Formal/Rare) To put someone on a limited ration or budget.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Money):
  • She gives her children a weekly allowance to teach them about budgeting.
  • The company provides a daily meal allowance for employees on business trips.
• Noun (Permitted Amount):
  • Each passenger has a baggage allowance of 23 kilograms.
  • The diet plan includes a small daily allowance for sweets.
• Noun (Deduction/Consideration):
  • When grading, the teacher made an allowance for the student's recent illness.
  • The price is $100, with a $10 allowance for the minor scratch on the side.
• Verb:
  • (Historical/Formal) During the siege, food was strictly allowanced to the population.

Advanced Usage

• "To make allowance(s) for": To consider or take into account a particular factor, often showing leniency or understanding.
  • You must make allowance for the time difference when scheduling the call.
  • We should make allowances for his lack of experience.

Variants and Related Words

• Allow (verb): To permit or give permission.
• Allowable (adjective): Permissible, acceptable.
• Disallowance (noun): The act of refusing to permit or accept.

Synonyms

• Stipend: A fixed regular sum paid as a salary or allowance.
• Allocation: An amount of something assigned to a particular purpose.
• Ration: A fixed amount of a commodity officially allowed to each person.
• Rebate: A partial refund or deduction.
• Leeway: The amount of freedom to move or act that is available.

Related Phrases

• Cost-of-living allowance (COLA): An increase in pay or benefits to offset inflation.
• Travel allowance: Money provided to cover expenses incurred while traveling for work.
• Family allowance: (Dated) A government benefit paid to families with children.

Related Idioms

• "To make allowance(s) for": (As above, this is the primary idiom.) It implies a deliberate act of consideration or tolerance.
  • The rules are strict, but the judge will make allowances for first-time offenders.

Noun

1. the act of allowing
   • He objected to the allowance of smoking in the dining room
2. a reserve fund created by a charge against profits in order to provide for changes in the value of a company's assets
3. a permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits
4. an amount added or deducted on the basis of qualifying circumstances
   • an allowance for profit
5. a sum granted as reimbursement for expenses
6. an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)
   • travel allowance
   • my weekly allowance of two eggs
   • a child's allowance should not be too generous

Verb

1. put on a fixed allowance, as of food