appropriation
noun
ap·pro·pri·a·tion
ə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən 
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
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
Congress failed to pass regular annual spending appropriations, instead resorting to a short-term continuing resolution.
—
Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Once again, whenever The Baldwins needs to move into and out of a tricky topic like being on trial in the public eye for cultural appropriation, or being on actual legal trial, the series can simply turn back to its baseline premise.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Enacted in 1974, the law aimed to reassert Congress' power of the purse by providing the procedures for when a president wants to suspend appropriations that have already been approved by Congress.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2025
The incident occurred just before 11 a.m. as the Senate was poised to discuss its final appropriation bills for the day, according to Mississippi Today.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appropriation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Once again, whenever The Baldwins needs to move into and out of a tricky topic like being on trial in the public eye for cultural appropriation, or being on actual legal trial, the series can simply turn back to its baseline premise.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Enacted in 1974, the law aimed to reassert Congress' power of the purse by providing the procedures for when a president wants to suspend appropriations that have already been approved by Congress.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2025
The incident occurred just before 11 a.m. as the Senate was poised to discuss its final appropriation bills for the day, according to Mississippi Today.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appropriation
Cite this Entry
“Appropriation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appropriation. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
appropriation
noun
ap·pro·pri·a·tion
ə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən
1
: an act or instance of appropriating
2
: a sum of money appropriated for a specific use
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share