misappropriation
misappropriation — noun
1. wrongfully converting money or property left in your safekeeping into something
wrongfully converting money or property left in your safekeeping into something you spend on yourself or on a purpose other than the one it was given for.
The treasurer was charged with the misappropriation of charity funds for personal travel.
misappropriation of + funds
Auditors uncovered a clear pattern of misappropriation in the company's quarterly accounts last spring.
pattern of misappropriation in [context]
Tariq resigned as club president after admitting to the misappropriation of membership fees.
The court ordered Constanza to repay every dollar lost to the misappropriation of her clients' deposits.
Strict bookkeeping rules help small charities prevent misappropriation by junior staff handling cash.
- embezzlement
narrower — typically applies to money taken by an employee from an employer
- appropriation
neutral term for taking; needs an adjective like 'wrongful' to carry the same negative meaning
- theft
broader and less formal; covers any stealing, not only entrusted assets
- restitution
the act of returning what was wrongly taken
文法句型
misappropriation of + noun
noun + of funds / assets / property
用法筆記
Subject is usually a named institution or individual entrusted with assets; the noun typically pairs with 'of' + funds / assets / property. Strong formal-legal register — avoid in casual speech, where 'stealing' or 'embezzlement' is more natural.
常見錯誤
misappropriation — verb
1. to take money or property that you have been trusted to look after, and use it d
to take money or property that you have been trusted to look after, and use it dishonestly for yourself or for the wrong reason.
Lakshmi was sacked after she tried to misappropriate the donations meant for the school library.
misappropriate + donations (passive of trust)
Several officials misappropriated the relief money sent to villages after the earthquake.
misappropriate + relief money
Funds raised for the new hospital wing had been misappropriated to pay private debts.
Asher denied that he had misappropriated any of the money his neighbour left in his care.
The board accused Élise of misappropriating company stock for use in a side business.
- embezzle
narrower — specifically money taken by an employee from an employer
- siphon off
informal; suggests gradual, secret diversion of funds
- divert
neutral on intent; can be lawful (redirecting funds) unless context shows wrongdoing
文法句型
misappropriate + noun (funds / property / assets)
passive: be misappropriated
用法筆記
Always transitive — the object is the thing that was entrusted (funds, property, donations, assets). The verb implies an existing relationship of trust; you cannot misappropriate something you simply find on the street. Frequently passive when the agent is unknown or being protected.