1. To give or to assign a resource to a particular person or cause: Some say that corrupt officials have been appropriating funds to spend on local projects in order to be re-elected by their constituencies or voters.
2. To take possession of something by force; such as, after a military invasion or conquest: A serious impediment to a peace settlement was the government's policy of illegally appropriating land from the farmers.
3. To identify or to set aside for a particular purpose: The city council appropriated funds for building the new library and for expanding its educational system.
4. To take possession of or to make use of something for one's own purpose, often without permission: Sara's brother is appropriating her book without her consent or knowledge. © ALL rights are reserved.

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A reference to what is taken without permission or consent; especially, by public authority: "The appropriated funds that were meant for the schools were used to increase the salaries of the city-council members."