/ad vans"meuhnt, -vahns"-/ , n.
1. an act of moving forward.
2. promotion in rank or standing; preferment: She had high hopes for advancement in the company.
3. Law. money or property given by one person during his or her lifetime to another that is considered an anticipation of an inheritance and is therefore to be deducted from any share that the recipient may have in a donor's estate.
[ 1250-1300; ME avauncement avancement. See ADVANCE, -MENT ]