Synonyms

expropriate

American

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

verb (used with object)

expropriated, expropriating

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.
to dispossess (a person) of ownership.

The revolutionary government expropriated the landowners from their estates.
to take (something) from another's possession for one's own use.

He expropriated my ideas for his own article.

expropriate British

/ ɛksˈprəʊprɪˌeɪt /

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Their assets were expropriated by the new government of Fidel Castro.

From The Wall Street Journal

Exxon had a long history in Venezuela, but it ended abruptly in 2007, when former President Hugo Chávez expropriated the company’s assets.

From Barron's

Conoco, which was a player there 20 years ago before its assets were expropriated, also hasn’t made any commitments to restart production.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023