expropriate

[eks-proh-pree-eyt]

verb (used with object)

expropriated, expropriating 

1. to take possession of, especially for public use by the right of eminent domain, thus divesting the title of the private owner.

   The government expropriated the land for a recreation area.

2. to dispossess (a person) of ownership.

   The revolutionary government expropriated the landowners from their estates.

3. to take (something) from another's possession for one's own use.

   He expropriated my ideas for his own article.

expropriate

/ ɛksˈprəʊprɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. to deprive (an owner) of (property), esp by taking it for public use See also eminent domain

Other Word Forms

• expropriation noun
• expropriable adjective
• expropriator noun
• expropriationist adjective
• de-expropriation noun
• unexpropriable adjective
• unexpropriated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expropriate¹

1605–15; from Medieval Latin expropriātus “separated from one's own” (past participle of expropriāre ), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + propri(āre) “to appropriate” (derivative of proprius proper ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of expropriate¹

C17: from Medieval Latin expropriāre to deprive of possessions, from proprius own

Example Sentences

Now, the Chilean government is going to expropriate some of its land to commemorate Pinochet's victims there.

From BBC

This is a reference to the US's anger over the law that will give the state the power to expropriate some privately owned land without compensation for owners.

From BBC

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa is at the centre of a political firestorm after he approved a law that gives the state the power to expropriate some privately owned land without compensation for owners.

From BBC

The minister also rejected allegations, repeated by Trump, that government was expropriating land held by white farmers.

From BBC

Those claims have grown louder in recent months, after South Africa passed a law allowing the government to expropriate rural land that was not in use.

From Salon

Related Words

• annex 
• confiscate 
• requisition 
• sequester