entitlement

Everyday

1. An entitlement is something you have a right to have or do, like holiday time or free meals. tree →
2. Entitlement can mean the feeling that you deserve special treatment, even when you do not; this sense is disapproving. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and formal speech: holiday entitlement, benefit entitlement. In stories a spoiled character may show a sense of entitlement. In maths: entitlement may be a number of days or an amount of money to work out. Phrases: holiday entitlement, sense of entitlement, entitlement to.

Examples

• Workers have an entitlement of 25 days' holiday a year. tree →
• Pupils from low-income families have an entitlement to free meals. tree →
• His sense of entitlement annoyed everyone. tree →
• Check your entitlement before you apply. tree →
• She used all her holiday entitlement in summer. tree →
• The spoiled prince acted with entitlement. tree →

Note

Comes from "entitled" (having a right to). Countable or uncountable. Careful: "entitled" can also mean behaving as if you deserve more, which is a criticism. In maths: entitlement minus days used = days left.