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

Under the Constitution’s appropriations clause, only Congress can authorize such spending.

From MarketWatch

The 21 people arrested face accusations of appropriation of public assets, money laundering, influence peddling and criminal association.

From Reuters

The cultural appropriation of Indigenous art isn’t exactly new.

From Seattle Times

Congress could address these issues by expanding the EPA's funding in the annual appropriations legislation, which it will write later this year.

From Salon

In late December, Congress included a provision about the International Criminal Court embedded in the large appropriations bill it passed in late December.

From New York Times

Related Words

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