appropriation

noun

ap·​pro·​pri·​a·​tion ə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce appropriation (audio)
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
appropriative adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Critics have complained that the maneuver was a way for the council to work around a charter requirement that requires appropriations of more than 1.5% of the budget to be a separate referendum question. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2025 Olivia Heller/The Hustle Viewers accused her of everything from overconsumption to hoarding to appropriation. HubSpot, 20 June 2025 The appropriations ricochet off the feminist imitations of Andy Warhol and Frank Stella paintings that Elaine Sturtevant began to make in the 1960s. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025 More than 70% of the CPB’s federal appropriation goes to about 1,500 local public media stations. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for appropriation

Word History

Etymology

see appropriate entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of appropriation was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Appropriation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appropriation. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

appropriation

noun
ap·​pro·​pri·​a·​tion ə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce appropriation (audio)
1
: an act or instance of appropriating
2
: a sum of money appropriated for a specific use

More from Merriam-Webster on appropriation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!