Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- the act of entitling.
- the state of being entitled.
- the right to guaranteed benefits under a government program, as Social Security or unemployment compensation.
1823, perhaps in some senses from French entitlement, which long had been used in legal language; in part a native formation from entitle + -ment. Entitlement culture attested by 1994 (culture of entitlement is from 1989).
Federal programs, such as Social Security (see also Social Security), Medicare (see also Medicare) and Medicaid, that disburse money according to fixed formulas to citizens who fall into designated categories. Because entitlements do not require annual congressional appropriations, their cost tends to rise steadily and, in the view of some, out of control.