misappropriate

American  

[mis-uh-proh-pree-eyt] / ˌmɪs əˈproʊ priˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

misappropriated, misappropriating

1. to put to a wrong use.

2. to apply wrongfully or dishonestly, as funds entrusted to one's care.

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misappropriate British  

/ ˌmɪsəˈprəʊprɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to appropriate for a wrong or dishonest use; embezzle or steal

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Other Word Forms

• misappropriation noun

Etymology

Origin of misappropriate

First recorded in 1855–60; mis- ¹ + appropriate

Example Sentences

There was the safety dummy that was misappropriated by impatient commuters.

From Los Angeles Times

In its counterclaim, Archer denied that it had misappropriated trade secrets, induced the employee to breach their contract or interfered with Joby’s partnerships.

From The Wall Street Journal

Evidence that Girardi, a power broker in California politics and the law, had misappropriated millions of dollars in settlement money from the Indonesians led to the implosion of his law firm five years ago.

From Los Angeles Times

Amy Knox, the former chief operating officer of Harm Reduction-SD, was charged with three felony counts of misappropriating public money and three felony counts of embezzlement.

From Los Angeles Times

Wexner said that he later discovered Epstein "had misappropriated vast sums of money from me and my family", a statement he repeated in his opening remarks.

From BBC

Related Words

• embezzle
• misspend
• misuse
• plunder
• swindle