appropriation
noun
ap·pro·pri·a·tion
ə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən 
1
: an act or instance of appropriating something
2
: something that has been appropriated
specifically
: money set aside by formal action for a specific use
the city's appropriation for schools
Examples of appropriation in a Sentence
the appropriation of funds to repair the bridge
The economy has been weakened by the appropriation of the country's resources by corrupt officials.
Recent Examples on the Web
Baykeeper has been trying to get the Corps to stop the practice for years, and is now asking Congress to intervene by banning it in the upcoming appropriations bill, or through the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) next year.
—
Debbie Elliott, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025
The Senate on Friday broke a multiday impasse by passing the first three fiscal 2026 spending bills, the first time the upper chamber has passed appropriations bills before the August recess since 2018.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 2 Aug. 2025
That’s well and good, but why can’t the White House send Congress more potential cuts while Sen. Collins and friends work together to also identify potential budget reductions through a bipartisan appropriations process?
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
Even after Trump signed the bill into law, some public media advocates held out hope that federal funding could be restored through the normal appropriations process in Congress.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appropriation
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Debbie Elliott, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025
The Senate on Friday broke a multiday impasse by passing the first three fiscal 2026 spending bills, the first time the upper chamber has passed appropriations bills before the August recess since 2018.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 2 Aug. 2025
That’s well and good, but why can’t the White House send Congress more potential cuts while Sen. Collins and friends work together to also identify potential budget reductions through a bipartisan appropriations process?
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
Even after Trump signed the bill into law, some public media advocates held out hope that federal funding could be restored through the normal appropriations process in Congress.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appropriation
Cite this Entry
“Appropriation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appropriation. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
appropriation
noun
ap·pro·pri·a·tion
ə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən
1
: an act or instance of appropriating
2
: a sum of money appropriated for a specific use
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