allowance
B1Neutral (Common in both formal and informal contexts).
Definition
Meaning
A sum of money granted or given regularly for a specific purpose, often to a child by parents or to an employee for expenses.
1. A permitted amount or quantity of something, such as food or time. 2. The act of allowing, considering, or conceding something (e.g., making allowance for someone's inexperience). 3. A deduction or reduction, often in financial contexts (e.g., tax allowance).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning often depends on context and collocation: 'pocket money' meaning is common in family/child contexts; 'expense allowance' in business; and a more technical sense in finance/taxation (e.g., 'personal allowance'). The sense 'making allowance for' is more abstract and idiomatic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the 'money for a child' sense, BrE commonly uses both 'allowance' and 'pocket money'. AmE strongly prefers 'allowance' for this meaning, while 'pocket money' is less frequent. The tax/personal allowance sense is equally common in both. The 'expense allowance' for work is common in both.
Connotations
In AmE, 'allowance' for a child is the standard, neutral term. In BrE, 'pocket money' can sound more informal and child-centric, while 'allowance' might be used by wealthier families or in more formal contexts. The technical financial senses carry no significant regional connotation difference.
Frequency
Overall frequency is similar in both varieties. The child-money sense is more frequently lexicalized as 'allowance' in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
receive/get an allowancegive sb an allowanceincrease/cut an allowancemake allowance(s) for sth/sban allowance of [amount/quantity]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “make allowance(s) for (to consider or plan for a particular factor)”
- “within your allowance”
- “an allowance for depreciation (accounting)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A travel or subsistence allowance paid to employees to cover work-related expenses.
Academic
Used in economics (e.g., 'universal basic allowance'), sociology (studies on children's financial literacy), and nutrition ('recommended daily allowance').
Everyday
Most common: parents giving children a weekly/monthly sum of money.
Technical
In finance and tax: 'personal tax allowance', 'capital allowance' (for depreciation of assets).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I get a small allowance from my parents every week.
- His monthly allowance is ten pounds.
- The company offers a generous travel allowance for all employees.
- You should make some allowance for delays when planning your journey.
- The recommended daily allowance of vitamin C is 80mg for an adult.
- Her tax allowance was reduced because of her high income.
- The contract includes a cost-of-living allowance adjusted annually for inflation.
- The judge urged the jury to make full allowance for the defendant's traumatic past.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ALLOW + ANCE. Think of it as the noun from 'allow' – what you are allowed to have, especially money.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A RESOURCE / PERMISSION IS SPACE (e.g., 'making allowance for' creates mental/figurative space for an excuse).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'пособие' in the child-money context – 'пособие' is primarily a state welfare benefit. 'Allowance' (child) is 'карманные деньги'.
- The financial/tax 'allowance' is often 'налоговый вычет' or 'необлагаемый минимум'.
- 'Make allowance for' is not about giving money but 'делать скидку на', 'учитывать', 'принимать во внимание'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They allowance me £10' – INCORRECT; correct: 'They give me an allowance of £10').
- Confusing 'allowance' (regular sum) with 'bonus' (one-time extra payment).
- Using 'allowance' to mean 'salary' or 'wage'.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'We must make allowance for his lack of experience,' what does 'make allowance for' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A salary is regular payment for employment. An allowance is typically an additional sum for a specific purpose (expenses, child's pocket money) or a permitted deduction/amount.
They can be synonyms for money given to a child. 'Pocket money' (more common in BrE) is informal and implies small, regular sums for personal spending. 'Allowance' (standard in AmE) is more neutral and can also refer to larger, more formal allocations.
No. The verb form is 'allow'. 'Allowance' is solely a noun.
It is a fixed phrase meaning to consider something as a mitigating factor, to plan for something, or to show leniency because of a particular circumstance (e.g., 'make allowance for the bad weather').