entitlement
noun
en·ti·tle·ment
in-ˈtī-tᵊl-mənt 
en-
1
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
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
Meanwhile, the legislature approved expensive new entitlements such as the Trans Health Equity Act (HB0283), creating a costly Medicaid expansion.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2025
On Monday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed federal agencies to stop spending money, with exceptions for entitlements, defense, and direct support for individuals, until grants-in-aid programs were aligned with the president’s agenda.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 1 Feb. 2025
Writer-director Drew Hancock indicts white male entitlement in this twisted tale, starring Quaid and Sophie Thatcher.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Jan. 2025
The owner of the dividend certificate will be entitled to the dividends paid by Microsoft on the common share, and the appreciation certificate will represent entitlement to everything else.
—Gene A. Grant Ii, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for entitlement 
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Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2025
On Monday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed federal agencies to stop spending money, with exceptions for entitlements, defense, and direct support for individuals, until grants-in-aid programs were aligned with the president’s agenda.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 1 Feb. 2025
Writer-director Drew Hancock indicts white male entitlement in this twisted tale, starring Quaid and Sophie Thatcher.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Jan. 2025
The owner of the dividend certificate will be entitled to the dividends paid by Microsoft on the common share, and the appreciation certificate will represent entitlement to everything else.
—Gene A. Grant Ii, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for entitlement
Articles Related to entitlement
Dictionary Entries Near entitlement
Cite this Entry
“Entitlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entitlement. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal 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
National Law Journal2
: 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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