appropriate
uh-PROH-pree-ayt
/əˈproʊpriˌeɪt/
To take something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission.
As a verb, to appropriate is to seize something. It is often used in the context of 'misappropriation' of funds or the government taking land.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'appropriare', meaning to make one's own. It shares a root with 'property' and 'proper'.
Word relationships
- seize: To take hold of suddenly and forcibly.
- expropriate: Specifically refers to the government taking property for public use.
- relinquish: To voluntarily cease to keep or claim something.
Commonly confused with
- embezzle: Appropriate is the act of taking; embezzlement is the specific crime of taking what was entrusted to you.
Word family
- appropriation (noun): The act of taking something for one's own use.
- appropriately (adverb): In a manner that is suitable (related to the adjective).
Collocations
- appropriate funds
- appropriate property
- misappropriate assets
Example sentences
- "The dictator was known to appropriate the property of his political rivals." Political Science
- "The committee voted to appropriate the necessary funds for the new library wing." Legal Context
Memory hook
Appropriate sounds like 'a-property-ate'—eating someone's property. To take for one's own use.
When not to use
Do not confuse this with the adjective 'appropriate' (meaning suitable).
Fun facts
- In a government context, an 'appropriations bill' is a law that sets aside money for specific spending.
- Cultural appropriation is a modern term for taking elements of a culture without permission.
Related words
Explore more words
appropriation, misappropriation, commandeer, usurp, borrow, seizure
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