appropriation

1 a sum of money allotted for a specific use by official or formal action the National Park Service received an increased appropriation for wildlife management Synonyms allocation, allotment, annuity, entitlement, grant, subsidy, subvention Related Words aid, assistance, block grant, grant-in-aid, set-aside; foreign aid, relief, state aid; advance, allowance, benefit, bequest, endowment, fund, legacy, stipend, trust, trust fund

2 the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority the insurgents' appropriation of the house for their headquarters Synonyms arrogation, commandeering, detainer, expropriation, preemption, seizure, takeover, usurpation Related Words annexation, assumption, attachment, confiscation, grab, impoundment, repossession, sequestration; defalcation, embezzlement, misapplication, misappropriation, misuse, peculation, theft; despoilment, looting, pillaging; encroachment, infringement, piracy; invasion, occupancy, occupation, preoccupancy, trespass; deforcement, disfurnishment, dispossession, ejection, stripping