appropriation

noun

ap·​pro·​pri·​a·​tion ə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce appropriation (audio)
1
: an act or instance of appropriating something
2
: something that has been appropriated
specifically : money set aside by formal action for a specific use
the city's appropriation for schools
appropriative adjective

Examples of appropriation in a Sentence

the appropriation of funds to repair the bridge The economy has been weakened by the appropriation of the country's resources by corrupt officials.
Recent Examples on the Web Senators made several additions to the House version, including a $75 million appropriation to deliver an additional pension payment for retirees in the Kentucky Employee Retirement System to help cushion them from the impact of high inflation. Bruce Schreiner, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024 Littering appropriations bills with culture-war poison pills — as House Republicans had done in versions of spending legislation last year — would have doomed its chances of passage. Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 This week, the House and Senate appropriations committees finalized a deal that would grant a minimum of $300 million for the Mars Sample Return mission, which is managed by JPL. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 But language inserted into the House of Representatives’ agriculture appropriations bill would nullify the recent changes and prevent additional protections. Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 As non-Italian women started to share their mob wife looks, claims of cultural appropriation began surfacing. Essence, 29 Feb. 2024 Republican infighting has been a large reason Congress has struggled to pass a set of appropriations bills on the fiscal year budget as hard-right House members demand steep spending cuts, and lawmakers remain stuck over aid. Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The 12 appropriations bills that keep the government functioning for the next year are due annually at the end of September. USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 With the Senate also struggling to complete work on all 12 appropriations bills, lawmakers have resorted to a series of short-term measures to keep the government funded. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'appropriation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see appropriate entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of appropriation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near appropriation

Cite this Entry

“Appropriation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appropriation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

appropriation

noun
ap·​pro·​pri·​a·​tion ə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce appropriation (audio)
1
: an act or instance of appropriating
2
: a sum of money appropriated for a specific use

More from Merriam-Webster on appropriation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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