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adjective Common

entitled

ihn-TYTLD

Entitled (adjective) means Given a particular title, as of a book or piece of writing. Example: “He wrote an essay entitled "The Cost of Silence.”

adjective
1
Given a particular title, as of a book or piece of writing.
"He wrote an essay entitled "The Cost of Silence.""
2
Having a legal or moral right to something.
"Employees are entitled to two weeks of paid leave."
"She felt entitled to an explanation after everything she'd been through."
3
Believing, often wrongly, that you deserve special treatment.
"The customer's entitled attitude made the whole exchange unpleasant."

How to use entitled

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither "titled" (a book) or "having a right to something" — and informally, "acting like you deserve more than you do."

Common mistake

The negative, informal sense ("an entitled customer") is about attitude, not legal rights — context tells you which meaning is meant.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
entitled to feel entitled an entitled attitude

Word forms

more entitled comparative, most entitled superlative

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Fill the gap

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He wrote an essay _____ "The Cost of Silence."

Related words

Rhymes for entitled

See all rhymes for entitled →

Frequently asked questions

What does “entitled” mean?

The word “entitled” means given a particular title, as of a book or piece of writing. In plain terms, either "titled" (a book) or "having a right to something" — and informally, "acting like you deserve more than you do.".

How do you pronounce “entitled”?

“Entitled” is pronounced ihn-TYTLD (/ɪnˈtaɪtl̩d/ in IPA).

How do you use “entitled” in a sentence?

Here is “entitled” used in a sentence: “He wrote an essay entitled "The Cost of Silence.".”

What is another word for “entitled”?

Words with a similar meaning to “entitled” include authorized and empowered.

What part of speech is “entitled”?

“Entitled” is an adjective.

Is “entitled” a common word?

“Entitled” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “entitled” have?

“Entitled” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: given a particular title, as of a book or piece of writing.

What is the difference between entitled and titled?

In the sense of having a name, entitled and titled mean the same thing: a book entitled War and Peace is the same as one titled War and Peace. Titled is often considered the cleaner choice, since entitled also carries an unrelated meaning of having a right to something. Both are widely accepted for naming works.

What is an example of entitled meaning named?

You might write, "She published a memoir entitled A Long Way Home," or "The report is entitled Growth and Renewal." Here entitled simply introduces the title of a written work, telling you what it is called. It has nothing to do with attitude or rights in this usage.

Does entitled always mean having a right to something?

No. Entitled has two distinct meanings. One is having a right or claim, as in being entitled to a refund, and a related sense describes someone who feels they deserve special treatment. The other, seen here, simply means given a particular title, as with a book or article. Context makes clear which is meant.

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