Misapportion: meaning, definitions and examples

🔀
Add to dictionary

misapportion

 

[ˌmɪsəˈpɔːʃ(ə)n ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

politics

To allocate or distribute something unfairly or inaccurately, especially in terms of representation or resources.

Synonyms

misallocate, misallocate, misassign, misdivide.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
misapportion

Used when resources, time, or responsibilities are distributed unfairly or inequitably. Often implies a formal setting where rules or fairness are expected, such as politics or organizational resources.

  • The government was criticized for misapportioning funds, leading to public outrage.
  • The school district misapportioned teaching staff, resulting in some schools being overstaffed and others lacking educators.
misallocate

Typically used when referring to the incorrect distribution of financial resources or assets. It implies a mistake or poor decision in the way resources are assigned or distributed.

  • The company faced financial losses due to the misallocation of its budget.
  • Misallocating grants can lead to underfunding of important projects.
misassign

This word is used when people or tasks are given incorrect duties or responsibilities, especially in a work, project, or organizational context.

  • The manager misassigned the project tasks, causing delays and confusion among the team.
  • He was misassigned to a role that didn't match his skills, affecting his job performance.
misdivide

This term is usually applied to instances where something is divided incorrectly into parts. It often pertains to mathematical or equitable distribution contexts.

  • The inheritance was misdivided, leading to disputes among the siblings.
  • Misdividing the workload created an imbalance, with some team members feeling overwhelmed.

Examples of usage

  • The government was criticized for misapportioning funds to certain regions over others.
  • The senator accused his opponent of misapportioning the benefits of the new policy to only a select few.
  • The misapportionment of voting districts led to unequal representation in the legislative body.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The prefix 'mis-' means wrong or bad, indicating incorrect actions.
  • The word 'apportion' comes from the Latin 'portio', meaning a share or part.
  • Combining these gives the idea of wrongly dividing something among people.

Political Science

  • Misapportionment often occurs in political contexts, such as when district populations are unevenly distributed, leading to representation issues.
  • Gerrymandering is a common form of misapportionment, where district lines are drawn to favor a certain political party.
  • Effective governance relies on equitable apportionment to ensure all groups are fairly represented.

Economics

  • In terms of resources, misapportionment can lead to shortages in one area while creating surpluses elsewhere.
  • Economic policies sometimes cause misapportionment of funds, impacting social equity and growth.
  • Good economic management seeks to correct misapportionment to balance supply and demand effectively.

Psychology

  • Cognitive biases can lead individuals to misapportion resources in their lives, prioritizing one area too heavily over others.
  • Perceptions of fairness can greatly influence feelings about misapportionment, leading to disputes.
  • Understanding fairness in sharing can help prevent social conflicts caused by misapportionment.

Education

  • In classroom settings, misapportionment of attention or resources can hinder student learning.
  • Teachers aim to apportion time and support equitably to foster an inclusive learning environment.
  • Training programs in education emphasize the importance of accurately assessing needs to avoid misapportionment.

Translations

Translations of the word "misapportion" in other languages:

🇵🇹 distribuição incorreta

🇮🇳 अन्यायपूर्ण वितरण

🇩🇪 falsche Verteilung

🇮🇩 pembagian yang salah

🇺🇦 неправильний розподіл

🇵🇱 niewłaściwy podział

🇯🇵 不適切な配分

🇫🇷 répartition incorrecte

🇪🇸 distribución incorrecta

🇹🇷 yanlış dağıtım

🇰🇷 잘못된 분배

🇸🇦 توزيع غير صحيح

🇨🇿 nesprávné rozdělení

🇸🇰 nesprávne rozdelenie

🇨🇳 错误分配

🇸🇮 nepravilna razdelitev

🇮🇸 rangur úthlutun

🇰🇿 дұрыс емес бөлу

🇬🇪 არასწორი განაწილება

🇦🇿 səhv bölgü

🇲🇽 distribución incorrecta