noun

entitlement

uhn-TEYE-tuhl-muhnt

noun

The right to receive or do something.

"Voting is a legal entitlement for every adult citizen."

A government benefit paid to people who qualify under the law, such as a pension or social security.

"Entitlement spending makes up a large share of the national budget."

An attitude of believing you deserve special treatment.

"His sense of entitlement made him impossible to work with."

How to Use Entitlement

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA right you have — either to a government payment, or, informally, an unearned sense that you deserve more than others.

Common pairings

sense of entitlement entitlement program legal entitlement

entitlements plural

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Voting is a legal _____ for every adult citizen.

Built from "entitle" plus the suffix "-ment," which turns a verb into a noun describing the state or result of that action.

cement element clement pavement tenement amusement statement agreement excrement amazement atonement implement