appropriation

/əˈproʊpriˌeɪʃən/

/əprəʊpriˈeɪʃən/

Other forms: appropriations

Appropriation is the act of taking something, usually without permission, like stealing your brother's french fries when he is momentarily distracted.

Appropriation originally referred to the taking of private property, usually by the government. Nowadays, appropriation can be positive or negative, but generally refers to taking something and making it your own — like your appropriation of different musical styles during your talent show performance or your company’s appropriation of new technology to improve their product. Appropriation can also refer to the setting aside of funds by the government for a specific purpose, like for improving school systems or supporting the arts.

Definitions of appropriation

1. noun

   a deliberate act of acquisition of something, often without the permission of the owner
   “the necessary funds were obtained by the government's appropriation of the company's operating unit”

   “a person's appropriation of property belonging to another is dishonest”

   types:

   adoption, borrowing

   the appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source

   pre-emption, preemption

   a prior appropriation of something

   seizure

   the taking possession of something by legal process

   requisition, sequestration

   seizing property that belongs to someone else and holding it until profits pay the demand for which it was seized

   naturalisation, naturalization

   changing the pronunciation of a borrowed word to agree with the borrowers' phonology

   misappropriation

   wrongful borrowing

   arrogation, confiscation

   seizure by the government

   distraint, distress

   the seizure and holding of property as security for payment of a debt or satisfaction of a claim

   impounding, impoundment, internment, poundage

   placing private property in the custody of an officer of the law

   impress, impressment

   the act of coercing someone into government service

   recapture

   a legal seizure by the government of profits beyond a fixed amount

   crossover

   the appropriation of a new style (especially in popular music) by combining elements of different genres in order to appeal to a wider audience

   type of:

   acquiring, getting

   the act of acquiring something
2. noun

   incorporation by joining or uniting
   synonyms: annexation

   type of:

   incorporation

   including by incorporating
3. noun

   money set aside (as by a legislature) for a specific purpose
   types:

   pork, pork barrel

   a legislative appropriation designed to ingratiate legislators with their constituents

   type of:

   money

   the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender