expropriate

American  

[eks-proh-pree-eyt] / ɛksˈproʊ priˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

expropriated, expropriating

1. to take possession of, especially for public use by the right of eminent domain, thus divesting the title of the private owner.

   The government expropriated the land for a recreation area.

2. to dispossess (a person) of ownership.

   The revolutionary government expropriated the landowners from their estates.

3. to take (something) from another's possession for one's own use.

   He expropriated my ideas for his own article.

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expropriate British  

/ ɛksˈprəʊprɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. to deprive (an owner) of (property), esp by taking it for public use See also eminent domain

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Other Word Forms

• de-expropriation
  noun
• expropriable
  adjective
• expropriation
  noun
• expropriationist
  adjective
• expropriator
  noun
• unexpropriable
  adjective
• unexpropriated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of expropriate

1605–15; from Medieval Latin expropriātus “separated from one's own” (past participle of expropriāre ), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + propri(āre) “to appropriate” (derivative of proprius proper ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

Use the verb expropriate to describe the act of taking people's property, usually by a government. If you really like your neighbor's house, you may wish you could expropriate the property. To correctly pronounce expropriate, say "ex-PRO-pree-ate." It sounds a lot like another verb, appropriate and has a similar meaning. That's because of their shared Latin root proprius, which means "own." Expropriate is typically used to describe taking property — rather than smaller possessions — and a government or other official organization is usually the one doing the taking. For example, a state may expropriate property in order to build a new road.

Related Words

• annex
• confiscate
• requisition
• sequester