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dispensation

dispensation

1 7.2
The act of giving out things, often based on a plan
  • noun
  • /ˌdɪspənˈseɪʃən/
translation icon : distribución
  • In the multicultural dispensation, the American nation is to be regarded as little more than a functional container for other identities.
  • dispensation of drugs
  • dispensations and asthma
  • salbutamol dispensations

Examples

  • Today, African states find themselves in a new dispensation in which the old rules that governed interstate relations are being torn asunder.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The charity organized the dispensation of food and water to the affected families after the disaster.

  • I just have to ensure that the actual dispensation of meds matches up with the prescription records.

  • Let us return to Solzhenitsyn's exploration of the theme of the soul of man under the dispensation of modern progress.

    Academic text (1998)
  • An administrative dean has just come in, a man who is influential in the dispensation of grant money, and Len wants to talk to him about a research project.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Latin American countries, in general, have more relaxed policies regarding the dispensation of drugs compared with the United States, and LAM has had to obtain a permit from the U.S. government to buy, transport, and dispense pharmaceuticals in other countries.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Each student's dispensation of resources for the project was carefully monitored by the teachers.

  • The swift dispensation of vaccines during the outbreak helped control the spread of the disease.

Synonyms

issue
vsdispensation
  • Formal
215 3.4

The official giving of supplies or documents to people

is similar but not limited to formal or official supply actions
distribution
vsdispensation
60 3.2

The act of giving things out to many people or places

is specifically about giving out in portions or by a system
allocation
vsdispensation
52 4.3

An amount of something given for a particular use

focuses on handing out in set portions or by an ordered system
assignment
vsdispensation
38 1.8

The act of giving things or tasks to people

focuses more on routine handing out in portions or by system
issuance
vsdispensation
  • Formal
17 6.5

An official giving out documents like ID cards or permits

covers the same giving action but stresses portioned or systematized distribution
disbursement
vsdispensation
  • Specialized
9 6.7

A payment of money from a fund or account

refers instead to distributing items in portions according to a system
provision
vsdispensation
8 3.4

The act of supplying things people need, like food

is about distributing those supplies specifically in portions or by system
allotment
vsdispensation
  • UK
5 4.6

The giving out of things according to a plan

stresses distributing in measured portions within a broader system
issuing
vsdispensation
3 3.3

Giving out things often in an official way

is the general act of giving out, not limited to formal acts
apportionment
vsdispensation
3 7.8

The sharing of things among people or groups according to a plan

emphasizes regular portions or a systematic method rather than simple sharing
disbursal
vsdispensation
  • Specialized
1 7.7

Paying out money from a fund

is broader, applying to supplying any items not only monetary payments
parceling
vsdispensation
  • US
1 5.1

Dividing something into parts and giving those parts to people

is about giving out those parts as regular portions under a system
share-out
vsdispensation
1 3.5

Dividing something into parts and giving each person a part

is similar but highlights routine portioning within a structured system
assignation
vsdispensation
  • Archaic
8.9

Giving things, money or jobs to people according to a plan

is broader, meaning distribution generally with portions or systematic rules
assigning
vsdispensation
2.5

Giving something to a person or place for a reason

is about distributing items in portions across a system rather than single assignment
purveyance
vsdispensation
9.9

The act of supplying food and other things people need

focuses on measured handing out in portions inside an organized system

Antonyms

23 4.2

Keeping something so you still have it

5 7.0

Keeping something and not giving it when others expect it

How Much

distribution
60 3.2
dispensation
1 7.2
allocation
52 4.3
portion
449 2.1
to ration
34 5.1

Surface Forms

dispensation singular
dispensations plural

Morphology

dispensation = dispense (transparent) = dispense + ation

This sense is the straightforward nominalization of 'dispense' meaning the act of distributing or supplying.

Etymology

Dispensation comes from Latin parts dis- and pensare meaning 'apart' and 'to weigh', the same root as dispense, which means to give out. So a dispensation can mean the act of giving out things in an organized or controlled way.