appropriation

[ uh-proh-pree-ey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of appropriating or taking possession of something, often without permission or consent.
2. anything appropriated for a special purpose, especially money.
3. an act of a legislature authorizing money to be paid from the treasury for a specified use.
4. the money thus authorized:

   a large appropriation for aid to libraries.

appropriation

/ əˌprəʊprɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of setting apart or taking for one's own use
2. a sum of money set apart for a specific purpose, esp by a legislature

appropriation

1. The grant of money by a legislature for some specific purpose. The authority to grant appropriations, popularly known as the power of the purse , gives legislatures a powerful check over executive branches and judicial branches , for no public money can be spent without legislative approval. Congress , for example, can approve or reject the annual budget requests of the executive branch for its agencies and programs, thereby influencing both domestic and foreign policy. ( See also checks and balances and pork-barrel legislation .)

Other Words From

• proap·propri·ation adjective
• reap·propri·ation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of appropriation¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French or Late Latin appropriātiōn- (stem of appropriātiō ). See appropriate, -ion

Related Words

• allotment
• allowance
• donation
• funding
• grant
• provision
• stipend
• subsidy