Word

allocation

noun C1

/ˌæl.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Meanings

noun

the act or process of distributing resources to different people, groups, or purposes

noun

a specific amount or share of something that is given for a particular purpose

Definition

An allocation is the act of distributing something, or the amount given to a particular person, group, or purpose.

An allocation refers to how resources such as money, time, staff, or space are distributed. It can mean the process of deciding who gets what, or the specific share that is assigned. In organizations, allocation is often guided by priorities, limits, and planning.

Examples

The committee debated the allocation of limited staff time across three urgent projects.
I questioned the allocation in the draft plan because my team was assigned far fewer hours than the others.
They defended the allocation of extra equipment to the night shift, arguing that demand peaks after dark.
She reviewed the allocation for each department and flagged inconsistencies before the meeting.
You can usually trace delays back to poor allocation of responsibilities rather than a lack of talent.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse allocation (the distribution or share) with location (a place) because the words look similar.