allowance

al|low|ance

W3S2 [əˈlauəns] n

1.) [C usually singular]

an amount of money that you are given regularly or for a special purpose

a monthly/annual etc allowance

▪ His father gives him a monthly allowance of £200.

allowance for

▪ Do you get an allowance for clothes?

▪ Sales staff get a generous mileage allowance or a company car.

▪ If you are entitled to sickness allowance, you must claim it from your employer.

2.) [C usually singular]

an amount of something that is acceptable or safe

▪ the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C

▪ Passengers' baggage allowance is 75 pounds per person.

3.) BrE

an amount of money that you can earn without paying tax on it

▪ a new tax allowance from the government

4.) [C usually singular] especially AmE a small amount of money that a parent regularly gives to a child

British Equivalent: pocket money

5.) [U and C]

something that you consider when deciding what is likely to happen, what you should expect etc

allowance for

▪ There is always an allowance in insurance premiums for whether someone smokes or not.

make (an) allowance/make allowances (for sth)

▪ The budget makes allowances for extra staff when needed.

6.) make allowance/allowances (for sb)

to let someone behave in a way you do not normally approve of, because you know there are special reasons for their behaviour

▪ Dad's under pressure - you have to make allowances.