quota

A fixed number or percentage that must be reached or kept within.

• I met my sales quota.
• The factory increased its daily production quota.
• The company set a quota for hiring new trainees.

How to use it: a quota of an amount (Each worker has a quota of twenty calls a day.)

Similar words: target, requirement

Common phrases: sales quota, meet a quota, daily quota, production quota

An official limit on how much of something is allowed.

• The boat exceeded its fishing quota.
• The government reduced the import quota.
• Have we reached our annual quota for water use?

How to use it: a quota on something (The government imposed a quota on imported cars.); a quota of an amount (Each boat has a quota of ten tonnes.)

Similar words: limit, cap

Common phrases: fishing quota, import quota, exceed a quota

A share of something that is officially given or assigned to a person or group.

• Each family received its quota of grain.
• The committee assigned a quota of funds to each district.
• Every member paid their quota of the shared costs.

How to use it: a quota of something (Each village received its quota of fuel.)

Similar words: share, allocation, portion

Common phrases: someone’s quota, quota of supplies, receive a quota