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

All of this is coming to a head just weeks before the Jan. 30 appropriations deadline.

From Salon

District Court Judge Jia Cobb in Washington, who found that lawmakers cannot be denied entry for visits “unless and until” the government could show that no appropriations money was being used to operate detention facilities.

From Los Angeles Times

The House approves a majority of appropriations bills under regular order.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The more appropriations that can pass means that another potential government shutdown would be less onerous,” Krueger said in a note.

From MarketWatch

Thus, Coogler’s vampire story doubles as a parable about cultural appropriation and assimilation, one among many readings he incorporates into the movie.

From Salon

Related Words

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