Misappropriation: meaning, definitions and examples

💸
Add to dictionary

misappropriation

 

[ mɪsəˌproʊpriˈeɪʃən ]

Context #1

legal term

The act of taking something for one's own use, typically funds or property, that belongs to another person or entity. Misappropriation is considered a form of theft or embezzlement and is illegal.

Synonyms

appropriation, embezzlement, theft

Examples of usage

  • The CEO was charged with misappropriation of company funds.
  • The misappropriation of public funds is a serious offense.

Translations

Translations of the word "misappropriation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 apropriação indevida

🇮🇳 अनुचित उपयोग

🇩🇪 Unterschlagung

🇮🇩 penyalahgunaan

🇺🇦 привласнення

🇵🇱 sprzeniewierzenie

🇯🇵 横領 (おうりょう)

🇫🇷 détournement

🇪🇸 malversación

🇹🇷 zimmet

🇰🇷 횡령 (hoengnyeong)

🇸🇦 اختلاس

🇨🇿 zpronevěra

🇸🇰 sprenevera

🇨🇳 挪用 (nuóyòng)

🇸🇮 pronevera

🇮🇸 misbeiting

🇰🇿 иемдену

🇬🇪 მითვისება

🇦🇿 mənimsəmə

🇲🇽 malversación

Word origin

The word misappropriation originated from the combination of the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly' and the word 'appropriation' meaning 'to take possession of'. It first appeared in the early 19th century in legal contexts to describe the illegal act of taking something that belongs to someone else. Over time, misappropriation has become commonly used in discussions of financial crimes and ethics.

See also: appropriate, appropriately, appropriateness, appropriation, inappropriate, inappropriately, inappropriateness, misappropriate, unappropriated.