Apropriate

Apropriate is not an accepted English word in standard usage. It is typically identified as a common misspelling of the word appropriate, which has two related but distinct uses as an adjective and a verb.

Definition and uses

As an adjective, appropriate means suitable, proper, or fitting for a particular purpose or context. As a verb, to appropriate means to take something for one’s own use, often without permission or formal authorization. The correct spelling for both senses is appropriate (with a double p after the initial a).

Etymology

Appropriate derives from the Latin appropriare, meaning to set aside or make proper for a specific use. English inherited the form appropriate via Old French and Latin, while apropriate does not have an independent, recognized etymology in standard dictionaries.

Usage and correction

In formal writing, always use appropriate. If you encounter apropriate, it is most likely a typographical error. Correcting it to appropriate clarifies whether you intend the sense of suitability (adjective) or taking/allocating something (verb). Related terms include appropriation (the noun form), appropriate, and in some contexts mispelling variants that should be avoided.

Frequency and perception

Apropriate appears mainly in user-generated content, quick notes, or while typing hastily. Most spelling checkers will flag it as incorrect. Awareness of the standard form helps maintain clarity across different registers and audiences.

See also

Appropriate; appropriation; mispelling; typographical error.