expropriations
|ex-pro-pri-a-tion-s|
🇺🇸
/ˌɛksprəpriˈeɪʃənz/
🇬🇧
/ˌɛksprəprɪˈeɪʃ(ə)nz/
(expropriation)
taking property
Etymology
'expropriation' originates from Late Latin, specifically the verb 'expropriare,' where the prefix 'ex-' meant 'out of' or 'away from' and 'proprius' meant 'one's own'.
'expropriation' developed via Late Latin 'expropriare' and Old French 'exproprier' and entered English through Middle English/early modern usage as 'expropriate' and the noun 'expropriation'.
Initially it literally meant 'to make not one's own' or 'to deprive of ownership'; over time it became a legal term referring specifically to the compulsory taking of private property (often by the state) and related procedures.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of a government or authority taking private property for public use, usually with compensation (legal/administrative taking).
The government's expropriations of coastal land for the new port sparked widespread protests.
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Noun 2
the act of forcibly or illegally taking property or rights (broader or pejorative sense, sometimes implying inadequate or no compensation).
During the crisis, expropriations of small businesses by local authorities left many owners without compensation.
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Last updated: 2025/12/26 20:17