What does entitled mean?
Entitled is primarily used as an adjective with two distinct senses. In its dominant modern sense it describes a person who believes they are inherently deserving of privileges, attention, or special treatment — often without having earned them — as in "an entitled attitude toward his colleagues." This usage is typically pejorative and has become especially prominent in discussions of generational attitudes and workplace behavior. In its older, formal sense, entitled means having a legitimate right or title to something: employees are entitled to paid leave, and citizens are entitled to due process. The word derives from "entitle," which combines the prefix en- (to make or give) with "title," ultimately from Latin titulus, meaning a label, inscription, or heading. Its dual character — describing both legitimate rights and unjustified self-regard — makes it a precise and useful term in both everyday criticism and formal, legal writing.
adjectiveBelieving oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment; or, formally, having a right or title to something.
- (of a person) having a belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment, often without earning them
- (formal) having a legal or moral right or title to something
"Years of praise had left him with an entitled attitude toward promotion."
"She grew entitled after years of being told she could do no wrong."
"All employees are entitled to paid annual leave."
The word for feeling you deserve things comes from Latin titulus — the placard on a Roman gladiator's name card.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of entitled
Entitled is the past participle of "entitle," formed from the prefix en- plus "title," which entered English via Old French from Latin titulus, meaning a label, heading, or inscription. Originally, to entitle meant literally to give someone a title or official designation. Over time this broadened to mean giving someone a right or claim to something, and the adjective "entitled" came to describe a person possessing such rights. The modern pejorative sense — implying unearned self-importance — developed more recently, gaining wide currency in late twentieth-century usage.
Related word forms
How entitled is actually used
In everyday use "entitled" is frequently pejorative, describing someone who expects unearned advantages. In formal and legal contexts it is neutral, meaning simply that one has a right to something. The noun "entitlement" carries both meanings.
Easily confused with entitled
"Intitled" is a now-obsolete variant spelling; the modern word is always spelled "entitled."