Allowance: meaning, definitions and examples

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allowance

 

[ əˈlaʊəns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

financial

A sum of money paid regularly to a person, typically to meet specified needs or expenses.

Synonyms

grant, stipend, subsidy

Examples of usage

  • He receives a monthly allowance from his parents.
  • The government provides a housing allowance for low-income families.
Context #2 | Noun

parental

The amount of something that is permitted, especially within a set of regulations or for a specified purpose.

Synonyms

allocation, limit, quota

Examples of usage

  • Children are given a certain allowance of screen time each day.
  • There is a strict daily allowance of sugar in the diet.
Context #3 | Noun

tolerance

The tolerance allowed in a machine or system for a particular type of variation.

Synonyms

leeway, margin, tolerance

Examples of usage

  • There is a small allowance for error in the measurement.
  • The software has a built-in allowance for different operating systems.

Translations

Translations of the word "allowance" in other languages:

🇵🇹 subsídio

🇮🇳 भत्ता

🇩🇪 Zulage

🇮🇩 tunjangan

🇺🇦 допомога

🇵🇱 dodatek

🇯🇵 手当 (てあて)

🇫🇷 allocation

🇪🇸 asignación

🇹🇷 ödenek

🇰🇷 수당

🇸🇦 بدل

🇨🇿 příspěvek

🇸🇰 príspevok

🇨🇳 津贴

🇸🇮 dodatek

🇮🇸 styrkur

🇰🇿 жәрдемақы

🇬🇪 დანამატი

🇦🇿 müavinət

🇲🇽 asignación

Etymology

The word 'allowance' originated from the Old French word 'alaunce' which meant 'allocation of resources'. Over time, it evolved to refer to the act of allowing or permitting something. The concept of providing a regular sum of money as an allowance can be traced back to the early 18th century when it was commonly used in the context of parental financial support for children.

See also: allow, allowable, allowed, allowing, disallow.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,063, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.