appropriation

American  

[uh-proh-pree-ey-shuhn] / əˌproʊ priˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of appropriating or taking possession of something, often without permission or consent.

2. anything appropriated for a special purpose, especially money.

3. an act of a legislature authorizing money to be paid from the treasury for a specified use.

4. the money thus authorized.

   a large appropriation for aid to libraries.

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appropriation British  

/ əˌprəʊprɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of setting apart or taking for one's own use

2. a sum of money set apart for a specific purpose, esp by a legislature

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appropriation Cultural  

1. The grant of money by a legislature for some specific purpose. The authority to grant appropriations, popularly known as the power of the purse, gives legislatures a powerful check over executive branches and judicial branches, for no public money can be spent without legislative approval. Congress, for example, can approve or reject the annual budget requests of the executive branch for its agencies and programs, thereby influencing both domestic and foreign policy. (See also checks and balances and pork-barrel legislation.)

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Other Word Forms

• proappropriation adjective
• reappropriation noun

Etymology

Origin of appropriation

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French or Late Latin appropriātiōn- (stem of appropriātiō ). See appropriate, -ion

Example Sentences

Millions of dollars Tennessee GOP Rep. Chuck Fleischmann scored in earmarks in this year’s appropriations bills—the largest total in the House.

From The Wall Street Journal

Under federal law, employees may work during a shutdown only if their jobs are deemed essential or are funded outside the annual appropriations process.

From The Wall Street Journal

An estimated 61,197 TSA employees, out of its 64,130 total, will either work without pay or get paid with resources other than annual appropriations, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

From MarketWatch

No ICE officials testified at Wednesday’s congressional appropriations hearings.

From Barron's

Though the study is underway now, it’s been in the works since Congress included the plan in appropriations legislation in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allotment
• allowance
• donation
• funding
• grant
• provision
• stipend
• subsidy