allocation
UK: ˌæləˈkeɪʃən | US: ˌæləˈkeɪʃən
n. the act of distributing or assigning resources for a specific purpose
n. the portion or share assigned to someone or something
n. (computing) the reservation of memory or storage space
allocation = al<to> + loc<place> + ation<noun suffix>
- al<to>: Prefix derived from Latin ad- (meaning "to" or "toward"), assimilated to al- before l.
- loc<place>: Root from Latin locus (meaning "place" or "location").
- ation<noun suffix>: Suffix forming nouns of action or state, from Latin -atio.
Etymology Origin:
The word allocation traces back to Latin allocare ("to place or assign"), combining ad- (toward) and locus (place). Over time, it evolved into Old French allouer (to assign) and later Middle English allocaten, retaining the core idea of distributing resources to specific "places" or purposes. The modern sense reflects systematic distribution, whether in finance, computing, or general planning.
The allocation of funds to education has increased this year.
Each team received an equal allocation of office space.
Memory allocation errors can cause software crashes.
The manager reviewed the budget allocation for marketing.
Fair allocation of resources is critical in humanitarian aid.