# entitlement

/ɛnˈtaɪtəɫmənt/ (US) · /ɛntˈaɪtəlmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/entitlement
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a legal right

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the official right to have or do something, often based on a law or a contract.

For teachers: the legal or official right to receive a benefit or service, often established by statute or contract.

- Your holiday entitlement increases after you have worked for the company for three years.
- The legal team reviewed the contract to determine the employee's exact entitlement regarding severance pay and stock options.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'to'.

### 2. government benefits

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a government programme that provides money or help to people who meet certain rules.

For teachers: a government-funded programme or payment that guarantees support to citizens who meet specific eligibility criteria.

- The government is debating whether to reduce spending on healthcare entitlements.
- Economists warned that the rising cost of age-related entitlements would place an unsustainable burden on the national budget over the next decade.

### 3. feeling of deserving more

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the feeling that you are better than others and deserve special treatment without working for it.

For teachers: a subjective belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment, often used pejoratively.

- His sense of entitlement made it very difficult for him to work in a team.
- The manager noted that the new intern's sense of entitlement was alienating the senior staff, who expected a more humble approach to learning.

Teaching tip: In modern social commentary, this sense is frequently used to criticise younger generations or wealthy individuals.

## Examples

- He showed entitlement by expecting a free upgrade.
- The company reviewed its employee entitlements, including health insurance and paid leave.
- Critics argue that the political class suffers from a deep sense of entitlement, believing their status justifies exemption from the rules that bind ordinary citizens.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.