misappropriate

verb

mis·​ap·​pro·​pri·​ate ˌmi-sə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt 

misappropriated; misappropriating; misappropriates

transitive verb

: to appropriate wrongly (as by theft or embezzlement)

misappropriation

ˌmi-sə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən 

noun

Synonyms of misappropriate

• steal

Examples of misappropriate in a Sentence

They accused him of misappropriating town funds.

a financial manager misappropriating funds from her clients' accounts

Recent Examples on the Web

According to a criminal complaint, Young used shell corporations and fraudulent billing practices to misappropriate funds intended for homeless housing, including through programs administered by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Three years later, in April 2018, he was accused of misappropriating over $400,000 in funds while working at the financial aid office as an undergraduate. — Owen Carry, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

That’s one reason there are so many arguments over the value of a team, or an athlete, or sports more generally, as more and more money chases something essentially priceless—or misappropriated, depending on your view. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

Every dollar misappropriated by a fraudulent operator is a dollar taken directly from an individual struggling with depression, addiction or severe mental illness. — Richard Popiel, Boston Herald, 30 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misappropriate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

misappropriate

verb

mis·​ap·​pro·​pri·​ate ˌmis-ə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt 

: to appropriate wrongly

especially : to take dishonestly for one's own use

misappropriation

-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

misappropriate

transitive verb

mis·​ap·​pro·​pri·​ate ˌmi-sə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt 

: to appropriate wrongfully or unlawfully (as by theft or embezzlement)

misappropriation

-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən 

noun