1
: a proportional part or share
especially
: the share or proportion assigned to each in a division or to each member of a body
2
: the number or amount constituting a proportional share
3
: a fixed number or percentage of minority group members or women needed to meet the requirements of affirmative action
Examples of quota in a Sentence
The agency imposes strict fishing quotas.
The company has imposed quotas on hiring.
He lost his driver's license because he exceeded the quota of traffic violations.
The department set new sales quotas in January.
Recent Examples on the Web
Small wonder our communities have a (perverse) incentive to dodge their housing quotas, even at the risk of penalty.
—
Russell Hancock, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
The second case on this list of feuding brothers vying for a spot, but that quota is taken by Oasis.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2026
The elimination or suspension of 210 degree programs that fell below a new state enrollment quota gained approval Wednesday from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Those enrollment quotas are 10 graduates for an associate degree, 15 for a bachelor's, seven for a master's and three for a doctorate or education specialist degree.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quota
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Russell Hancock, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
The second case on this list of feuding brothers vying for a spot, but that quota is taken by Oasis.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2026
The elimination or suspension of 210 degree programs that fell below a new state enrollment quota gained approval Wednesday from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Those enrollment quotas are 10 graduates for an associate degree, 15 for a bachelor's, seven for a master's and three for a doctorate or education specialist degree.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quota
Cite this Entry
“Quota.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quota. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quota
noun
quo·ta
ˈkwōt-ə 
1
: a share or part assigned to each member of a group
2
: the number or amount making up a quota
Legal Definition
quota
noun
quo·ta
ˈkwō-tə
1
: a proportional part or share assigned to each in a body
2
: a specific amount that serves as a minimum or maximum
a law against traffic ticket quotas
Etymology
Medieval Latin, from Latin quota pars how great a part
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