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noun C2 Proficient Uncommon

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."
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 notes

In 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

Word forms

allotments plural

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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."

Origin: Old French

Related words

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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