appropriation

/əˌproʊpriˈeɪʃən/
noun
  1. The act of taking something for one's own use, especially without permission or illegally.
    • Cultural appropriation can be offensive when sacred symbols are used without respect.
    • The appropriation of company funds by the manager led to his arrest.
    • The artist was accused of appropriation for copying another painter's style.
  2. Money set aside by a government or organization for a specific purpose.
    • The school board approved an appropriation for new computers in the library.
    • Congress passed an appropriation of $50 million for disaster relief.
    • The appropriation for road repairs was lower than expected this year.
  3. In art, the practice of using pre-existing objects or images in a new work, often to comment on originality or culture.
    • Some critics argue that appropriation in art can blur the line between inspiration and theft.
    • The photographer's work relies on appropriation of vintage advertisements.
    • Appropriation in art became popular with the pop art movement of the 1960s.
What does "appropriation" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean