entitlement
en-TY-tuhl-muhnt
/ɪnˈtaɪ.təl.mənt/
A legally guaranteed right to a benefit or grant; or a psychological belief that one deserves special privileges.
In legal and policy contexts, it refers strictly to government programs where eligible individuals have a statutory right to benefits. In psychological contexts, it carries a negative connotation of arrogance.
The story behind the word. The word traces back to Old French 'entiteler' and Late Latin 'intitulare', meaning 'to give a title or name to.' In Anglo-Norman law, giving someone a legal title bestowed property rights. By the 20th century, modern governance used the word to describe legal rights to public funds, while mid-century psychology adopted it to describe an unjustified belief in one's own superiority.
Word relationships
- right: A right is a broader moral or legal guarantee, whereas entitlement often specifically denotes government benefit programs or self-absorbed expectations.
- prerogative: Prerogative refers to an exclusive right tied to a specific rank or office, rather than a universal guarantee.
- privilege: A privilege is a special honor or advantage granted to a few, whereas an entitlement is a guaranteed right.
Commonly confused with
- allowance: An allowance is a discretionary allotment of money, whereas an entitlement is grounded in legal rights or structural programs.
Word family
- entitle (verb): To give a right or title to something.
- entitled (adjective): Believing oneself deserving of privileges; or having a legal title.
Collocations
- entitlement program
- sense of entitlement
- statutory entitlement
- entitlement spending
Example sentences
- "Reforming entitlement spending has become a primary subject of debate during federal budget negotiations." Public Policy
- "His persistent sense of entitlement caused friction with colleagues who expected equal recognition for equal effort." Psychology
Memory hook
Think of having your 'title' written on a document: if your name is on the title, you have an entitlement. Title = Right.
When not to use
Do not use it as a simple synonym for 'gift' or 'bonus' when no legal right or feeling of privilege exists.
Fun facts
- In US budget law, 'entitlement spending' refers to programs like Social Security where payments are mandatory under law rather than approved annually by Congress.
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