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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Allowance Definition, Examples & Common Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：regular pocket money (allowance)

allowance 🔊

/əˈlaʊəns/

Money given regularly, especially by parents to children, for small personal expenses.

Child receiving allowance coins from parent's hand in cozy living room

regular pocket money 🔊

➕

/ˈrɛɡjələr ˈpɑkɪt ˈmʌni/

Money given on a regular basis, typically by parents to a child, for small personal expenses.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'allow' (to permit) + '-ance' (noun suffix); refers to something granted or permitted.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'allow' + 'ance': something you are allowed to have regularly.

📖 Example

Every Saturday, Lily receives her weekly allowance and immediately saves part of it in her piggy bank. 🔊 Every Saturday, Lily receives her weekly allowance and immediately saves part of it in her piggy bank.

🔗 Collocations

weekly allowance – Money given every week

monthly allowance – Money given every month

give an allowance – To provide regular money to someone

🔄 Synonyms

pocket money (n.) – Small amount of money given to a child regularly

spending money (n.) – Money available for personal expenses

stipend (n.) – A fixed regular payment, often for work or study

🚫 Antonyms

deduction (n.) – An amount taken away from money received

penalty (n.) – A financial punishment or fine

🌱 Derivatives

allow (v.) – To permit or give permission

allowable (adj.) – Able to be permitted

allowed (adj.) – Permitted by rules

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Old French 'alouer' (to allocate or grant), entering Middle English as 'allowen'. The meaning of a regularly given sum of money emerged in the 17th century, while the sense of a permitted limit developed later.

Meaning 2：permitted maximum amount (allowance)

allowance 🔊

/əˈlaʊəns/

The maximum amount of something that is permitted, especially in rules or official contexts.

Suitcase on airport scale showing weight allowance limit

permitted maximum amount 🔊

➕

/pərˈmɪtɪd ˈmæksɪməm əˈmaʊnt/

The maximum quantity of something, such as weight or volume, that is officially allowed.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The airline's free baggage allowance is 23 kilograms, so I need to pack carefully. 🔊 The airline's free baggage allowance is 23 kilograms, so I need to pack carefully.

🔗 Collocations

baggage allowance – The maximum weight or number of bags allowed

weight allowance – The maximum permitted weight

duty-free allowance – The quantity of goods that can be brought without tax

🔄 Synonyms

limit (n.) – A point or boundary beyond which something is not allowed

quota (n.) – A fixed share or amount that is officially allowed

allocation (n.) – An amount of something given or set aside for a purpose

🚫 Antonyms

excess (n.) – An amount that goes beyond the limit

overage (n.) – Surplus amount beyond what is allowed