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.

---

apportion British  

/ əˈpɔːʃən /

verb

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

   to apportion the blame

---

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

Explanation

To apportion is to divide something into shares and hand it out. With 11 guests at your birthday party, it makes sense to cut the cake into 12 slices and apportion one to each — leaving one slice for you! The verb apportion means "allocate" or "divvy up," and it's often used to talk about the way money is distributed. For example, your parents might evenly apportion an allowance to each of their children, or apportion slightly less money to your youngest sibling. In government, power is also apportioned in various ways, as when laws apportion a certain number of congressional representatives to each state.

Example Sentences

Apportion, ap-pōr′shun, v.t. to portion out: to divide in just shares: to adjust in due proportion.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Apportion unto us a goodly share of Thy realities, and lead us into the arena of Thine attainments.

From The Promulgation of Universal Peace by `Abdu'l-Bahá

Apportion to each six bushels of wheat—the per capita requirement for food, according to scientists.

From The Canadian Commonwealth by Laut, Agnes C. (Agnes Christina)

Apportion men and bags in all the boats but one.

From The Sword Maker by Barr, Robert

Apportion to each a fair amount; apportion the property among the heirs, between two claimants; apportion according to numbers, etc.

From English Synonyms and Antonyms With Notes on the Correct Use of Prepositions by Fernald, James Champlin

Related Words

• administer
• allocate
• allot
• distribute
• divvy up