quota

UK: /ˈkwəʊtə/ US: /ˈkwoʊtə/ ,(kwō′tə)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

quo•ta /ˈkwoʊtə/   n. [countable]

1. the share or part of a total that is required from, allowed to, or that belongs to a particular district, group, etc.:
   The officers issued their quota of speeding tickets.
2. the number or percentage of persons of a specified kind permitted to enroll in a college, join a club, immigrate to a country, etc.

See -quot-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

quo•ta  (kwō′tə), n. 

1. the share or proportional part of a total that is required from, or is due or belongs to, a particular district, state, person, group, etc.
2. a proportional part or share of a fixed total amount or quantity.
3. the number or percentage of persons of a specified kind permitted to enroll in a college, join a club, immigrate to a country, etc.

• Medieval Latin, short for Latin quota pars how great a part?
• 1660–70

Synonyms

• 1. allotment, apportionment, allocation.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

quota / ˈkwəʊtə/ noun

1. the proportional share or part of a whole that is due from, due to, or allocated to a person or group
2. a prescribed number or quantity, as of items to be manufactured, imported, or exported, immigrants admitted to a country, or students admitted to a college

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin quota pars how big a share?, from quotus of what number