/ eksˈprəʊprieɪt; NAmE -ˈproʊ-/ verb [ vn ]
1.
( formal or law ) ( of a government or an authority ) to officially take away private property from its owner for public use
2.
( formal ) to take sb's property and use it without permission
► ex·pro·pri·ation / ˌeksˌprəʊpriˈeɪʃn; NAmE -ˌproʊ-/ noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin expropriat- taken from the owner, from the verb expropriare , from ex- out, from + proprium property, neuter singular of proprius own.