'reallocate' originates from the prefix 're-' meaning 'again' and the word 'allocate' from Latin 'allocare', where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'locare' meant 'to place'.

'allocare' transformed into the French word 'allouer', and eventually became the modern English word 'allocate', with 're-' added to form 'reallocate'.

Initially, it meant 'to place again', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to distribute or assign again'.