allowance Definition
- 1an amount of money that is given to someone regularly or for a specific purpose
- 2the act of allowing or the state of being allowed
Using allowance: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "allowance" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
My parents give me a weekly allowance.
Example
The company provides a travel allowance for its employees.
Example
The teacher made an allowance for students who needed extra time to finish the test.
allowance Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for allowance
- compensation
- stipend
- grant
- subsidy
- payment
Phrases with allowance
cost-of-living allowance
an additional payment made to employees to help them cope with the higher cost of living in certain areas
Example
The company offers a cost-of-living allowance to employees who work in expensive cities.
housing allowance
a payment made to employees to help them pay for housing expenses
Example
The university provides a housing allowance to its faculty members.
travel allowance
a payment made to employees to cover their travel expenses
Example
The sales team receives a travel allowance for their business trips.
Origins of allowance
from Old French 'alouance', from 'alouer' meaning 'to allocate'
Summary: allowance in Brief
An 'allowance' [əˈlaʊəns] refers to an amount of money given to someone regularly or for a specific purpose. It can also denote the act of allowing or the state of being allowed. Examples include a weekly allowance from parents, a travel allowance from a company, and an allowance made by a teacher for extra test time. Phrases like 'cost-of-living allowance,' 'housing allowance,' and 'travel allowance' specify the purpose of the payment.
