misappropriation

[ mis-uh-proh-pree-ey-shuhn ]

noun

1. wrongful use, especially the dishonest or inappropriate use of others’ money, data, etc.:

   He pled guilty to multiple counts of misappropriation of public funds and falsifying public documents, and received a four-year prison sentence.

   Database owners are concerned about the possible commercial misappropriation of their products.

Word History and Origins

Origin of misappropriation¹

mis- ¹( def ) + appropriation ( def )

Example Sentences

A former law enforcement official said the NYPD alerted the Department of Investigation, the city’s anti-corruption agency, to the misappropriation allegation, and in separate communications to the two other claims about Mullins.

From ProPublica

It’s an extraordinary request and it makes sense that Orrick would need to see more certain evidence of misappropriation.

From TechCrunch

In addition to forcing him out of the company he founded, Kairos sued Brackeen, alleging the misappropriation of corporate funds and misleading shareholders.

From TechCrunch

Our action today returns to drivers the tens of millions of dollars in tips that Amazon misappropriated, and requires Amazon to get drivers’ permission before changing its treatment of tips in the future.

From TechCrunch

It also criticizes Google for “misappropriating” content from third parties and favoring its own vertical content in search results.

From Search Engine Land

In 2007, Burkle sued Follieri, the former boyfriend of actress Anne Hathaway, for misappropriation of funds.

From The Daily Beast

The funds ought to be applied to the general good; and if they're only spent on a few, I call it misappropriation of a trust.

From Project Gutenberg

But no one has ever proposed to punish or restrain this sort of misappropriation by law.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps it was the check for the misappropriation of which he afterward found his way to the convict lines of Malacca.

From Project Gutenberg

And then came the news that Uncle Fred had been dismissed, all on account of drink and gambling and misappropriation of funds.

From Project Gutenberg

The Penal Code simply makes dishonest misappropriation a crime in itself.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• desecration
• exploitation
• misconduct
• misdeed
• mishandling
• misuse
• prostitution
• wrongdoing