misappropriation

American  

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

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of misappropriation

mis- ¹ ( def. ) + appropriation ( def. )

Example Sentences

Those illegal practices include the “misappropriation of confidential information in breach of a pre-existing duty of trust and confidence to the source of the information.”

From Barron's

The case is the third high-profile incident in recent years involving misappropriation of the company’s trade secrets.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Google case is the third high-profile incident in recent years involving misappropriation of the company’s trade secrets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bottom line: If your mother authorized the sale of her home and it was understood that the proceeds belonged to her, your sister could be found guilty of misappropriation.

From MarketWatch

A court in the nearby town of Briviesca said it had "ordered the provisional release of the two former nuns" detained on Thursday, who are under investigation "for misappropriation of cultural heritage assets".

From Barron's

Related Words

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