apportion

verb

ap·​por·​tion ə-ˈpȯr-shən 

apportioned; apportioning ə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

: to divide and share out according to a plan

especially : to make a proportionate division or distribution of

Representatives are apportioned among the states.

apportionable

ə-ˈpȯr-shə-nə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• allocate
• allot
• allow
• assign
• distribute
• lot
• ration

Examples of apportion in a Sentence

The proceeds from the auction will be apportioned among the descendants.

Apportion the expenses between the parties involved.

The agency apportions water from the lake to residents.

Recent Examples on the Web

But how blue and red teams might be apportioned for AI—and what motivates the players in this whole exercise to ultimately act toward, ideally, furthering the public good—is unclear. —IEEE Spectrum, 15 Mar. 2024

The two sides disagree on how triggers for mandatory cutbacks should be determined, and how the reductions should be apportioned between the lower basin and the upper basin. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024

Educational opportunity is still apportioned mostly by parents’ ability to pay for housing in desirable ZIP codes. —Dana Goldstein, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024

For the county, the challenge of obtaining permanent housing is compounded by the need to apportion its efforts over more than 80 cities and a tangle of unincorporated areas between them. —Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023

But as the warming climate intensifies the state’s cycles of flood and drought, its system for apportioning water is under strain. —Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2024

There are still plenty of issues to work through, including where new regulatory authorities should be housed, what role third-party auditors can play, what transparency requirements should look like, and how to apportion liability when things go wrong. —Helen Toner, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2023

The legal fight has been complicated by disputes among agricultural landowners over how the cuts should be apportioned. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023

The trustees of the joint fund will have to decide exactly how to apportion the money, as that formula is not set down in the tentative agreement. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French aporcioner, apporcioner "to divide up, assess (a tax)," (also continental Middle French apporcionner), borrowed from Medieval Latin apportiōnāre, from Latin ap- ap- entry 1 + Medieval Latin portiōnāre "to divide into portions" — more at portion entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing apportion

• apportion blame

Kids Definition

apportion

verb

ap·​por·​tion ə-ˈpōr-shən 

-ˈpȯr-

apportioned; apportioning -sh(ə-)niŋ 

: to divide and distribute in proportion

apportionment

-shən-mənt

noun

Legal Definition

apportion

transitive verb

ap·​por·​tion ə-ˈpȯr-shən 

: to make a usually proportionate division or distribution of (an amount due) according to a plan: as

a

: to divide (an amount due in tax or other liability) among the parties responsible for respective shares of the payment compare contribution

b

: to assign (a portion of the consideration agreed to in a contract) as payment for the other party's partial performance

c

: to distribute (corporate dividends) based on some proportion

d

: to assign (legislative representatives and taxes) among the states as provided by law

apportionable adjective

apportionment noun