Allowance Definition

ə-louəns
allowanced, allowances, allowancing
noun
allowances
The act of allowing.
American Heritage
The act of allowing, permitting, admitting, etc.
The allowance of a claim.
Webster's New World
An amount that is allowed or granted.
Consumed my weekly allowance of two eggs.
American Heritage
Something allowed as a share; specif., an amount of money, food, etc. given regularly to a child, dependent, etc. or to military personnel for a specific purpose.
Travel allowance.
Webster's New World
Something, such as money, given at regular intervals or for a specific purpose.
A travel allowance that covers hotel bills.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
verb
allowanced, allowances
To put on a fixed allowance.
Cut expenses by strictly allowancing the sales representatives.
American Heritage
To put on an allowance or a ration.
Webster's New World
To dispense in fixed quantities; ration.
American Heritage
To apportion economically.
Webster's New World
To put upon a fixed allowance (especially of provisions and drink); to supply in a fixed and limited quantity.
The captain was obliged to allowance his crew.
Our provisions were allowanced.
Wiktionary
adjective
Designating a horse race in which the weight each horse must carry is set by a formula tied to the horse's past performance and earnings.
Webster's New World
idiom
make allowance
  • To take into consideration when planning something.
  • To make excuses for or treat with leniency.
American Heritage
make allowance
  • to take circumstances, limitations, etc. into consideration
Webster's New World
make allowance for
  • to forgive or excuse because of mitigating factors
  • to leave room, time, etc. for; allow for
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Allowance

Noun

Singular:
allowance
Plural:
allowances

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Allowance

  • make allowance
  • make allowance
  • make allowance for

Origin of Allowance

  • Old French alouance.

    From Wiktionary

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