Appropriation
/əˌproʊpriˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe action of taking something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission.
/əˌproʊpriˈeɪʃən/
The act of taking something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission.
The appropriation of intellectual property is a serious offense.
💡 Simply: Taking something that doesn't belong to you.
More Examples
Cultural appropriation is a sensitive topic in modern society.
How It's Used
"The unauthorized appropriation of funds led to a criminal investigation."
"The artist faced criticism for the appropriation of indigenous cultural elements in their work."
A sum of money or other resources set aside for a specific purpose.
/əˌproʊpriˈeɪʃən/
An amount of money officially allocated for a particular purpose.
The government announced a large appropriation for disaster relief.
💡 Simply: Money set aside for a specific job.
More Examples
The company requested an appropriation for new equipment.
How It's Used
"The budget included an appropriation of $1 million for infrastructure improvements."
From Middle French apropriacion, from Latin appropriatio, from appropriare 'to make one's own', from ad- 'to' + proprius 'one's own'.
The word has seen increased usage in recent times, especially in discussions surrounding cultural sensitivity and intellectual property.
Memory tip
Think 'appro' (to) + 'priate' (take as one's own)