entitlement

[en-tahy-tl-muh nt] /ɛnˈtaɪ tl mənt/

Word Origin

noun

the act of entitling.

the state of being entitled.

the right to guaranteed benefits under a government program, as Social Security or unemployment compensation.

Origin

1825-1835

1825-35; entitle + -ment

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2015.
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Word Origin and History for entitlement

1823, perhaps in some senses from French entitlement, which long had been used in legal language; in part a native formation from entitle + -ment. Entitlement culture attested by 1994 (culture of entitlement is from 1989).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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