allowance

[əˈlaʊəns]

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

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.

  • a payment made to employees to help them pay for housing expenses

    Example

    The university provides a housing allowance to its faculty members.

  • 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'

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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.

How do native speakers use this expression?