expropriation

noun ex·pro·pri·a·tion \ (ˌ)ek-ˌsprō-prē-ˈā-shən \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: expropriation in a Sentence

Definition of expropriation

: the act of expropriating or the state of being expropriated; specifically : the action of the state in taking or modifying the property rights of an individual in the exercise of its sovereignty

Examples of expropriation in a Sentence

the development of the colony involved expropriation of large tracts of fertile farmland from the natives

Recent Examples of expropriation from the Web

In other words, that ceasing to defend the goodness and justice of the white lifestyle might legitimize crime against whites or the expropriation of their land.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Could South Africa’s Drought Help Deconstruct the Divisions of Apartheid?," 8 June 2018
The biggest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, opposes expropriation, saying state land should be given to potential farmers.

— Washington Post, "South Africa’s leader says ‘no smash and grab’ land reform," 1 Mar. 2018
Within days of the ruling, the attorney general authorized the army to consider the expropriation of private land owned by Palestinian farmers to pave a settlement road.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Natalie Portman and the Crisis of Liberal Zionism," 26 Apr. 2018
Six Palestinians were killed in protests against the Israeli land expropriations in 1976, but by Friday afternoon, those killed marking the anniversary had exceeded that number.

— BostonGlobe.com, "‘I don’t want this life’: 15 Palestinians shot dead by Israeli army on Gaza border," 30 Mar. 2018
But confusion around the ANC’s policy on land expropriation deters would-be investors.

— The Economist, "Dreams of fieldsSouth Africa is getting land reform wrong," 25 Jan. 2018
Friday’s protests marked Land Day, when Palestinians observe the date in 1976 that six unarmed Arab citizens from Israel were killed in a wave of protests against state expropriations of land.

— noga tarnopolsky, latimes.com, "9 Palestinians reported killed by Israeli fire as Gaza border protest builds," 30 Mar. 2018
In addition, the conflict would be over commodities that are much less vital to the economy and national security of the U.S. than the sectors threatened by China’s expropriation of intellectual property.

— gerard baker, WSJ, "The 10-Point.," 8 Mar. 2018
But the churches claim that the possibility of expropriation by the government would scare away potential buyers of their land.

— The Economist, "A dispute over real estate roils Jerusalem," 28 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'expropriation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.