misappropriation

UK: /ˌmɪsəprəʊpriˈeɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌmɪsəˌproʊpriˈeɪʃən/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mis•ap•pro•pri•ate /ˌmɪsəˈproʊpriˌeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to apply wrongfully or dishonestly, as funds that were placed in one's care:
   The dishonest manager misappropriated funds.

mis•ap•pro•pri•a•tion /ˌmɪsəˌproʊpriˈeɪʃən/  n. 

[uncountable] guilty of misappropriation of funds.

[countable] More misappropriations were discovered before the trial began.

See -propr-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mis•ap•pro•pri•ate  (mis′ə prō′prē āt′), v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to put to a wrong use.
2. to apply wrongfully or dishonestly, as funds entrusted to one's care.

• mis-¹ + appropriate 1855–60

mis′ap•pro′pri•a′tion, n.