An allowance is money given to someone regularly, usually weekly or monthly, without them having to earn it each time. Many kids receive an allowance from their parents: a few dollars every week to spend or save as they choose. Some families tie allowance to chores, while others give it freely to help kids learn money management.

When your parents give you an allowance, they're allocating part of the family budget for you to manage yourself. This is your chance to practice making choices: Should you save for something big? Spend it right away? Give some away?

Allowance can also mean an amount of something that's permitted or set aside. A baggage allowance on an airplane tells you how many pounds you're allowed to pack. A daily screen time allowance might limit how many hours you can spend on devices. Teachers might make an allowance for students who were sick during a lesson, giving them extra help to catch up.

The phrase “make allowances for” means to be understanding about someone's situation or limitations. If your friend is grumpy because they didn't sleep well, you might make allowances for their mood, realizing they're not usually that way.