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 has passed three of the 12 annual appropriations bills, funding military construction and veterans affairs; the legislative branch; and agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
—
Emily Brooks, The Hill, 4 Jan. 2026
Democrats want to fund the appropriations, the spending bills all the way through 2026.
—Eric Fayeulle, ABC News, 4 Jan. 2026
The interim endowment is the largest one-time appropriation for a water project in state history.
—Lana Ferguson, Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
Later in the year, an Assembly bill requiring data centers to disclose their electricity use was placed in the Senate’s suspense file – where appropriations committees often quietly halt measures.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appropriation
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Emily Brooks, The Hill, 4 Jan. 2026
Democrats want to fund the appropriations, the spending bills all the way through 2026.
—Eric Fayeulle, ABC News, 4 Jan. 2026
The interim endowment is the largest one-time appropriation for a water project in state history.
—Lana Ferguson, Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
Later in the year, an Assembly bill requiring data centers to disclose their electricity use was placed in the Senate’s suspense file – where appropriations committees often quietly halt measures.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 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 6 Jan. 2026.
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
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