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View synonyms for allowance

allowance

[ uh-lou-uhns ]

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. Compare tolerance ( def 6a ).


verb (used with object)

, al·low·anced, al·low·anc·ing.
  1. to place on a fixed allowance, as of food or drink.
  2. to allocate (supplies, rations, etc.) in fixed or regular amounts.

allowance

/ 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. make allowances
    make allowancesmake allowance usually foll by for
    1. to take mitigating circumstances into account in consideration (of)
    2. to allow (for)


verb

  1. tr to supply (something) in limited amounts

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Other Words From

  • pre·al·low·ance noun
  • su·per·al·low·ance noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of allowance1

1350–1400; Middle English alouance < Middle French. See allow, -ance

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Idioms and Phrases

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.

More idioms and phrases containing allowance

see make allowance .

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Example Sentences

A tool like Zeta is trying to give already existent transactions — begging for a rent check, splitting the grocery bill, going halfsies on dinner, giving allowance — an easier way to be completed.

Krylon’s Fusion covers up to 25 square feet per can, while the technical data sheet for Rust-Oleum’s 2X says it covers eight to 12 square feet, with an allowance of losing about 15 percent of the paint due to overspray.

Folks just assume that biological sex determines one’s competence at caretaking, making little allowance for variations among individuals.

The company and other industry participants requested and relied upon that letter to ensure our special allowance payment billing practices were proper.

Keep the money, and steer all but an allowance’s worth to 529 college savings accounts instead, in your name.

If Justin Bieber were Tom Brady's son, Brady would most likely be unable to afford his weekly allowance.

This allowance worked for the state (Maria Theresa taxed their production).

He received a regular allowance in return for his "discretion".

It's here that you see the $130-million plus Catching Fire budget, upped from The Hunger Games' $78-million allowance, pay off.

Laham pays $200 a month for rent alone, and, like Nidal, she has used up her UNRWA allowance.

Freed from his presence, Black Sheep resolved that he should no longer be deprived of his allowance of pleasure-reading.

The next stage in bankruptcy proceedings is the proving and allowance of claims.

Consequently an amendment may be made diminishing the weekly allowance to a member who is sick, and also the time of allowing it.

"Not such a very short allowance either," said the doctor quaintly, and therewith the dinner concluded.

On the 28th of March however it was found necessary to make a considerable reduction in the allowance.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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allowable cutallowance race