Allowance

Definition

Allowance refers to an amount of money given regularly for a specific purpose, especially to cover expenses or as part of a budget. It can also mean a permissible amount or a tolerated variation, often used in contexts like manufacturing or time management.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American and British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /əˈlaʊəns/
• Respelling: uh-LOW-uhns

Etymology

The word "allowance" originates from Middle English "alowance," meaning "approval or sanction." It is derived from the Old French "alouer," meaning "to approve," which itself is rooted in the Latin "allocare," meaning "to assign" or "allocate." Over time, it has come to represent a sum of money allotted or a tolerated amount.

Derivatives

• Allow (verb)
• Allowable (adjective)
• Allowing (verb, present participle)
• Allowed (adjective)
• Allowance-based (adjective)

Synonyms

• Stipend
• Allotment
• Grant

Antonyms

• Restriction
• Prohibition
• Limit

Usage

The noun "allowance" is commonly used to refer to a sum of money given periodically, often to cover expenses or as a set budget, for example, "She receives a weekly allowance for chores." It is also used in technical and production contexts to indicate permissible tolerances, such as "The design allows an allowance of 0.5mm in thickness."

Related Terms

• Budget: An estimate of income and expenditure for a set period.
• Stipend: A fixed regular payment, typically for services or expenses.
• Allowance for error: An acceptable margin of error or tolerance in measurements.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• An amount of money given at regular intervals for a specific purpose: Refers to funds provided to cover expenses or as part of a budget.
  • Example: "He saved part of his monthly allowance for a new bicycle."
• A permitted variation or tolerance: Used in technical or production settings to describe an acceptable deviation or margin.
  • Example: "The machine was set with an allowance for slight variations in measurements."