The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
n. The act or process of entitling.
n. The state of being entitled.
n. A government program that guarantees and provides benefits to a particular group: "fights . . . to preserve victories won a generation ago, like the Medicaid entitlement for the poor” ( Jason DeParle).
n. a legal obligation on a government to make payments to a person, business, or unit of government that meets the criteria set in law, such as social security in the US.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. a right granted by law or contract, especially to financial benefits from the government.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. right granted by law or contract (especially a right to benefits)
Word Usage
"David Axelrod, a strategist for the president, called Mr. Romney's use of the term "entitlement nation" deeply offensive while speaking with reporters in Manhattan."