noun

allowance

allowance, pocket money, stipend, permitted amount

He gets a weekly allowance from his parents.

He gets a weekly allowance from his parents.

The baggage allowance is 20 kilograms.

The baggage allowance is 20 kilograms.

You should make an allowance for his youth.

You should make an allowance for his youth.

((a weekly/monthly allowance)) a sum of money given regularly He gets a weekly allowance from his parents.

((a baggage/weight allowance)) a permitted amount The baggage allowance is 20 kilograms.

((to make an allowance for sth.)) to consider something when judging You should make an allowance for his youth.

Synonyms: pocket money, stipend, grant, concession

From the verb 'allow', with the noun-forming suffix '-ance'. It originally meant 'praise' or 'approval', then shifted to 'a sum granted'.

An 'allowance' is an amount of something that is 'allowed'. This could be money, weight, or even a margin for error.

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