apportionment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Legal, Administrative
Quick answer
What does “apportionment” mean?
The act of dividing something into shares and distributing it among people or groups.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of dividing something into shares and distributing it among people or groups.
The formal, often legal or administrative, allocation or distribution of something (like costs, resources, seats, taxes) according to a plan or formula.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is used in similar formal/legal contexts in both varieties. The primary difference is in specific institutional applications (e.g., 'parliamentary seat apportionment' in the UK vs. 'congressional seat apportionment' in the US).
Connotations
Neutral and procedural in both. Strongly associated with legal, governmental, and financial procedures.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to its constitutional role in the reapportionment of the House of Representatives following each census.
Grammar
How to Use “apportionment” in a Sentence
the apportionment of [NOUN PHRASE] (e.g., costs, seats)apportionment among/between [PARTIES]apportionment according to/based on [CRITERION]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apportionment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The committee will apportion the grant money based on need.
- Costs are apportioned according to floor space.
American English
- The legislature must apportion the new congressional districts.
- The judge apportioned blame between the two drivers.
adverb
British English
- [No direct adverb from 'apportionment'; use 'proportionally' or related terms] The funds were distributed proportionally.
American English
- [No direct adverb from 'apportionment'] Liability was allocated equitably among the defendants.
adjective
British English
- The apportionable costs were listed in the annex.
- They disagreed on the apportionment formula.
American English
- Apportionable income is taxed across multiple states.
- The apportionment process is governed by statute.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The apportionment of overhead costs to different departments is crucial for accurate budgeting.
Academic
The study examined the mathematical models used for the apportionment of parliamentary seats.
Everyday
[Rare in everyday conversation] We need a fair apportionment of chores among the flatmates.
Technical
The legal dispute centred on the apportionment of liability for the environmental damage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “apportionment”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “apportionment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apportionment”
- Misspelling as 'apportionment' (double 'p') or 'apportionmant'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They will apportionment the funds'). It is strictly a noun.
- Confusing it with 'proportion' (a comparative relation).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Apportionment' specifically implies dividing and distributing a fixed whole according to a plan, formula, or proportion. 'Allocation' can be more general, meaning to set aside or designate resources for a purpose, not necessarily from a pre-existing shared whole.
No, it is a mid-frequency word (C1 level) used primarily in formal, legal, financial, governmental, and academic contexts. It is rare in everyday casual conversation.
Reapportionment is the process of re-doing an apportionment, often to reflect new data. It is a key term in US politics, referring to the redistribution of congressional seats among states based on new census results.
Yes, in legal contexts, one can speak of the 'apportionment of liability' or 'apportionment of blame,' meaning the division of responsibility among different parties involved in a case.
The act of dividing something into shares and distributing it among people or groups.
Apportionment is usually formal, technical, legal, administrative in register.
Apportionment: in British English it is pronounced /əˈpɔːʃ(ə)nm(ə)nt/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈpɔːrʃ(ə)nm(ə)nt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms; the word itself is technical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PORTION. AP-PORTION-MENT is the act of giving out portions to everyone.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIVIDING A PIE (The resource is a whole pie, and apportionment is the act of cutting and distributing the slices fairly.)
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'apportionment' MOST appropriately used?