expropriation
noun
Expropriation — the formal taking of private property by public authority
Definition
Taking out of an owner's hands (especially taking property by public authority)
In depth
Expropriation is the taking of property out of an owner's hands, especially the taking of property by public authority, often for purposes deemed to serve the public interest, such as infrastructure development. The word carries significant political and economic weight, particularly controversial when private property is taken even with compensation, since the original owner had no genuine choice in the matter.
Origin
The word descends from Latin ex- (out of) and proprius (one's own), formed to mean literally taking something out of its owner's hands. That direct, almost blunt etymological construction reflects the word's significant weight, expropriation naming an act that, regardless of its legal justification, fundamentally removes property from its rightful owner's control.
Usage examples
"The government's expropriation of the farmland for the new highway sparked significant local opposition."
"International law generally requires fair compensation in cases of expropriation, though disputes over what constitutes 'fair' remain common."
"Historians have studied waves of expropriation during periods of revolutionary upheaval across many different countries."
How to use it
Expropriation is significant political, legal, and economic vocabulary, particularly important in writing about property rights, government authority, and international investment law, where the legitimacy and compensation terms of such takings often carry substantial controversy.
Related concepts
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