Appropriation means taking or using something—especially in an unfair or unauthorized way, but it can also mean officially setting aside money for a specific purpose.
How do you use appropriation in a sentence?
Use “appropriation” for both legal funding allocations and unauthorized takings.
For example: “The city council approved the appropriation of $2 million for road repairs,” or “The report criticized the appropriation of indigenous symbols without permission.” According to Merriam-Webster, the word works as a noun in both legal and everyday speech.
What are examples of appropriation?
Common examples include intellectual property, cultural symbols, traditional garments, music, language, food, and religious artifacts.
For instance, using a traditional dance in a commercial without consent may count as cultural appropriation. A 2025 study by UNESCO raised concerns about fashion brands using sacred patterns without permission, sparking global debate on ethical borrowing.
How do you use the word appropriation in art?
In art, appropriation means artists reuse existing images or objects to create new meaning.
Marcel Duchamp’s “Fountain” (1917) is a classic example. Unlike plagiarism, artists like Sherrie Levine have rephotographed Walker Evans’ Depression-era images to question ownership and value. This approach is often protected under fair use in places like the U.S., though it’s not without controversy.
What is the other term of appropriation?
Common synonyms include allocation, funding, grant, allotment, and budgeting.
For example, a government might announce a funding appropriation of $10 million for public housing. These terms get swapped around in budget documents and legislative texts, according to Investopedia.
Is art appropriation good or bad?
Art appropriation is usually creative and legally protected, but it turns controversial when it crosses into cultural exploitation.
Borrowing and remixing ideas drives artistic progress, yet critics argue that taking sacred symbols for profit harms communities. A 2024 survey by The Art Newspaper found that 62% of artists of color believe cultural borrowing should require consultation and consent.
What is the antonym of appropriation?
The antonyms include denial, refusal, repudiation, and divestment.
For example, if a government rejects a funding request, it’s exercising denial—the opposite of appropriation. These terms show when resources aren’t allocated or transferred.
What is the meaning of appropriation in art?
In art, appropriation means reusing existing images, objects, or styles with little transformation to convey new ideas.
As Tate explains, this practice challenges ideas about originality and authorship. Artists like Richard Prince have used appropriation to critique media culture, though his work has faced legal challenges over copyright.
What is the best definition of appropriation?
Appropriation is taking or using something unfairly or illegally—or officially allocating funds for a specific purpose.
For example, “The scandal involved the unauthorized appropriation of $500,000 from company funds,” versus “The legislature passed an appropriation bill for education.” The double meaning shows up in legal and financial contexts.
What is another word for cultural appropriation?
Alternatives include cultural misappropriation, cooptation, and cultural borrowing—though not all carry negative weight.
| Term | Implication | Example |
|---|
| Cultural misappropriation | Often negative; suggests exploitation | Wearing sacred headdresses as fashion |
| Cooptation | Neutral or negative; implies assimilation into dominant culture | Adopting yoga without acknowledging its roots |
| Cultural borrowing | More neutral; emphasizes exchange | Incorporating jazz rhythms into pop music |
Context decides everything—what feels like respectful borrowing in one case can feel like harmful appropriation in another. Smithsonian dives into this tension.
What part of speech is appropriation?
It shows up in phrases like “budget appropriation” or “cultural appropriation,” acting as a subject, object, or complement in sentences. Merriam-Webster lists it as a mass noun when talking about funds and a count noun when referring to misuse.
Which of the following is the best synonym for appropriation?
“Earmarking” usually works best for official funding allocation.
Other solid options include budgeting and allotment. For example: “The board approved the earmarking of $50,000 for community projects.” Meanwhile, “concession” or “stipulation” rarely fit financial contexts.
What does self appropriation mean?
Self-appropriation means reclaiming or recontextualizing your own identity, image, or experiences in art, media, or personal branding.
For example, a survivor sharing their story online to challenge stigma is practicing self-appropriation. The term also appears in accounting, where it means a company reinvesting profits instead of paying dividends.
What is profit appropriation?
Profit appropriation is deciding how a company’s net income gets distributed or reinvested.
Typical moves include dividends to shareholders, retained earnings for growth, and employee bonuses. For example, a firm with $1 million in profit might split it into $300,000 for dividends, $500,000 for expansion, and $200,000 for reserves. This breakdown appears in financial statements under IFRS rules.
