allotment
uh-LAWT-mehnt
Allotment (noun) means a share or portion of something that has been assigned. Example: “Farmers received their annual allotment of water for irrigation.”
noun
1
A share or portion of something that has been assigned.
"Farmers received their annual allotment of water for irrigation."
"Though most interviews are aired in ten-minute segments, very often they are longer than that specific time allotment."
— Warren Blumenfeld, Boston's Other Voice (1984)
2
(British) A small plot of public land rented out for growing vegetables or flowers.
"My grandad grows runner beans on his allotment every summer."
How to use allotment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a fixed share of something, or (in Britain) a small rented plot of land for growing your own vegetables.
UK vs US
The gardening sense — a rented plot of land — is a distinctly British institution, less common by that name elsewhere.
Common pairings
rent an allotment
allotment garden
annual allotment
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Word forms
- Plural
- allotments
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Farmers received their annual _____ of water for irrigation.
Etymology
From Old French alotement, built on the verb "allot."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “allotment” mean?
The word “allotment” means a share or portion of something that has been assigned. In plain terms, either a fixed share of something, or (in Britain) a small rented plot of land for growing your own vegetables.
How do you pronounce “allotment”?
“Allotment” is pronounced uh-LAWT-mehnt (/əˈlɔt.mɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “allotment” in a sentence?
Here is “allotment” used in a sentence: “Farmers received their annual allotment of water for irrigation.”
What part of speech is “allotment”?
“Allotment” is a noun.
Where does the word “allotment” come from?
The word “allotment” comes from Old French. From Old French alotement, built on the verb "allot.".
Is “allotment” a common word?
“Allotment” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “allotment” have?
“Allotment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a share or portion of something that has been assigned.
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