What does "allotment" mean?
The act of allotting.
Allotment
/əˈlɔt.mɛnt/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of allotting.
- Grammar: allotment is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: allocation, admeasure, aid, alimony.
- Useful contrasts: deprivation, empty land, surplus.
- Usage evidence: A good method for investing is a monthly allotment.
How to use "allotment"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "allotment" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "allotment" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "allotment" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "allotment" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "allotment" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "allocation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "allotment", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of allotting. countable, uncountable
"You will achieve more in designated sessions of quiet uninterrupted periods than in a longer allotment of time broken up by various activities."
- 2 the act of distributing by allotting or apportioning; distribution according to a plan wordnet
- 3 Something allotted; a share, part, or portion granted or distributed countable, uncountable
"The history attached to it could not but recur to Emily as she passed, and her heart sank within her—not with fear, but at the thought, how much of misery there was in the world; and why should she be spared amid such general allotment?"
- 4 a share set aside for a specific purpose wordnet
- 5 The allowance of a specific amount of money or other credit of a particular thing to a particular person. countable, uncountable
"Maynard used to help before he got sick, but there was no income except what I brought in my allotment."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A plot of land rented from the council for growing fruit and vegetables. British, countable, uncountable
"The fallout of this unexpected turn of events was that it was Saturday morning, the first day of the Easter holidays, before the thought of my allotment even entered my head. Goodness only knew how big my carrots were going to be by the time I got round there!"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"A good method for investing is a monthly allotment."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "allotment"?
Common synonyms include: allocation, admeasure, aid, alimony, allocate randomly, allocate resources.
How do you use "allotment" in a sentence?
A good method for investing is a monthly allotment.
How do you pronounce "allotment"?
Pronounced /əˈlɔt.mɛnt/.
Etymology
From Old French alotement (modern French allotement). By surface analysis, allot + -ment.