expropriate

verb

ex·​pro·​pri·​ate ek-ˈsprō-prē-ˌāt How to pronounce expropriate (audio)
expropriated; expropriating

transitive verb

1
: to deprive of possession or proprietary rights
2
: to transfer (the property of another) to one's own possession
expropriator noun

Did you know?

If you guessed that expropriate has something in common with the verb appropriate, you're right. Both words ultimately derive from the Latin adjective proprius, meaning "own." Expropriate came to English by way of the Medieval Latin verb expropriare, itself from Latin ex- ("out of" or "from") and proprius. Appropriate descends from Late Latin appropriare, which joins proprius and Latin ad- ("to" or "toward"). Both the verb appropriate ("to take possession of" or "to set aside for a particular use") and the adjective appropriate ("fitting" or "suitable") have been with us since the 15th century, and expropriate was officially appropriated in the 17th century. Other proprius descendants in English include proper and property.

Examples of expropriate in a Sentence

dissidents were shot, and their lands expropriated under his regime the state will have to expropriate scores of homeowners in order to build the new road
Recent Examples on the Web As part of the scheme, the UFC not only controls Fighters’ careers, but also takes and expropriates the rights to their names and likenesses in perpetuity. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 July 2024 Within six years, Berlin’s fashion companies, most of which were Jewish, were expropriated, the fashion designers were expelled, forced labor was established and the creative industry that had existed since 1836 was destroyed. Uwe Westphal, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2024 Since the 1970s, the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh have variously been engaged in negotiations and lawsuits to reclaim reserve land illegally expropriated by the Canadian government. Sara Miller Llana, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 June 2024 On the edge of the waterfront, this meeting place where beaver and salmon abounded was slowly expropriated amid construction of railways and increasing industrialization until the Squamish were put on a barge in 1913 and sent to existing reserves. Sara Miller Llana, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for expropriate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'expropriate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin expropriatus, past participle of expropriare, from Latin ex- + proprius own

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of expropriate was in 1611

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Dictionary Entries Near expropriate

Cite this Entry

“Expropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expropriate. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

expropriate

verb
ex·​pro·​pri·​ate ek-ˈsprō-prē-ˌāt How to pronounce expropriate (audio)
expropriated; expropriating
1
: to deprive of ownership or the right of ownership
2
: to take over the property of another especially by government action
expropriation
(ˌ)ek-ˌsprō-prē-ˈā-shən
noun

Legal Definition

expropriate

transitive verb
ex·​pro·​pri·​ate ek-ˈsprō-prē-ˌāt How to pronounce expropriate (audio)
expropriated; expropriating
: to take (property) of an individual in the exercise of state sovereignty (as by eminent domain)
expropriation noun

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