apportion

American  

[uh-pawr-shuhn, uh-pohr-] / əˈpɔr ʃən, əˈpoʊr- /

verb (used with object)

1. to distribute or allocate proportionally; divide and assign according to some rule of proportional distribution.

   to apportion expenses among the three men.

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apportion British  

/ əˈpɔːʃən /

verb

1. (tr) to divide, distribute, or assign appropriate shares of; allot proportionally

   to apportion the blame

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Other Word Forms

• apportionable adjective
• apportioner noun
• nonapportionable adjective
• unapportioned adjective

Etymology

Origin of apportion

1565–75; < Middle French apportionner, equivalent to ap- ap- ¹ + portionner to portion

Example Sentences

But it’s hard if not impossible to prove that social media caused any given individual’s troubles, let alone apportion liability among the platforms.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Entso-e report steered clear of such issues, insisting that its investigation did not aim to apportion blame.

From BBC

District Judge Thomas M. Durkin ordered that the settlement funds, which totaled $7.5 million, be apportioned to each client as soon as possible.

From Los Angeles Times

The blame apportioned to these protests does not sit right with many, even some sections of the Jewish community.

From BBC

Because of that distrust, the founders carefully apportioned responsibility over the “militia” — today’s National Guard — between the federal government and the states.

From Salon

Related Words

• administer
• allocate
• allot
• distribute
• divvy up