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

Example Sentences

Debate over Fed’s powers prove stumbling block to stimulus talksAides close to the negotiations said a short-term bill to extend government funding was unlikely to be approved on Friday, meaning government appropriations would lapse Saturday morning.

From Washington Post

It’s closer to tourist cuisine — discovered on trips to the United States and often served to American travelers, or Americans living here — but served with a certain amount of nostalgia and admiration, rather than appropriation.

From Eater

For these schools, the conversation around Native mascots is about authentic representation rather than appropriation.

From FiveThirtyEight

Creating multi-year appropriations that provide funding for more than just a single fiscal year could help those programs survive changes in government.

From MIT Technology Review

The appropriation was the result of a lawsuit that claimed discriminatory state funding in decades past.

From TruthBeTold.news

In this way, inspiration becomes appropriation, which leads directly to theft and erasure.

From The Daily Beast

They were equally amazed to learn that Ed Piskor was white, but not a word was said about cultural exploitation or appropriation.

From The Daily Beast

There would probably be a long talk about cultural appropriation if that movie were to come out now with a non-Latino actor.

From The Daily Beast

The grand old empires (including the ones in Africa) were all about rampant interethnic appropriation.

From The Daily Beast

But over time, the concept of cultural appropriation has morphed into a parody of the original idea.

From The Daily Beast

And this act of appropriation, as well as of bearing testimony, he afterwards repeated.

From Project Gutenberg

The owner of the corn and hogs made strenuous objections to this appropriation of his property.

From Project Gutenberg

When they hear of trouble on the Mountain the selectmen look the other way, and pass an appropriation to beautify the town pump.

From Project Gutenberg

The reply was: An annual appropriation so long as the military organization was maintained at the University.

From Project Gutenberg

The specific appropriation of some distinctive oath raised the presumption that it implied an unequivocal pledge of sincerity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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