entitlement

noun

en·​ti·​tle·​ment in-ˈtī-tᵊl-mənt How to pronounce entitlement (audio)
en-
Synonyms of entitlement
1
a
: the state or condition of being entitled : right
b
: a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract
2
: belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges
3
: a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group
also : funds supporting or distributed by such a program

Synonyms of entitlement

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Examples of entitlement in a Sentence

my entitlement to a refund celebrities who have an arrogant sense of entitlement entitlements such as medical aid for the elderly and poor
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Republican leaders cast Medicaid expansion as creating a larger, more expensive government entitlement program. — Jack Harvel october 25, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026 Raising retirement ages and restraining entitlement growth make the debt more manageable. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2026 Refund entitlement under the Supreme Court’s IEEPA ruling runs to the importer of record. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 They are held to a standard that doesn't include entitlement, excuses, or any agenda other than TEAM. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for entitlement

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of entitlement was in 1782

Browse Nearby Words

entitled
entitlement
entity
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Entitlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entitlement. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

entitlement

noun
en·​ti·​tle·​ment
1
: the state or condition of being entitled : claim
evidence of victim's entitlement to money seized—National Law Journal
2
: a right to benefits that is granted especially by law or contract (as an insurance policy)

Note: Some courts have held that entitlements are a property interest and therefore subject to procedural due process under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution when denied by federal or state governments.

3
: a government program that provides benefits to members of a group that has a statutory entitlement
also : the benefits distributed by such a program
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