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Definition of misappropriation

misappropriation

/ˌmɪs.əˌproʊ.priˈeɪ.ʃən/
mis · ap · pro · pri · a · tion
Plural:misappropriations
•
Adjective:misappropriative
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misappropriation Lexical Profile

• noun

1

The intentional, illegal, ordishonest use of property, funds, or ideas belonging to another person or organization for one's own unauthorized purpose.

Example

"The former treasurer faced severe legal penalties following an audit that uncovered the misappropriation of charitable funds."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for misappropriation
Antonyms
View all antonyms for misappropriation

• Rhymes for misappropriation

• Nearby Words

misapply
misapprehension
misappropriate
misappropriation
misarticulation
misassign
misassumption

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-18th century from 'mis-' (wrongly) and 'appropriation', which traces back to the Late Latin 'appropriare' (to make one's own), from 'ad-' (to) and 'proprius' (one's own).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Misappropriation. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/misappropriation
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