apportion
To divide and assign something, such as resources, costs, or blame, into proportional shares or parts. It is typically used when a total amount must be distributed among several parties according to a specific plan or set of rules.
Examples
3 of 5The roommates decided to apportion the utility bills based on the size of their respective bedrooms.
The roommates decided to apportion the utility bills based on the size of their respective bedrooms.
The judicial panel must apportion the responsibility for the environmental disaster among the three chemical firms.
The judicial panel must apportion the responsibility for the environmental disaster among the three chemical firms.
You shouldn't try to apportion all the blame to me when you were the one who lost the map.
You shouldn't try to apportion all the blame to me when you were the one who lost the map.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Look at the word 'portion' inside 'apportion'. To apportion is to make sure everyone gets their fair 'portion' of a total.
Quick Quiz
The committee had to _______ the limited research grants among dozens of deserving applicants.
Correct!
The correct answer is: apportion
Examples
The roommates decided to apportion the utility bills based on the size of their respective bedrooms.
everydayThe roommates decided to apportion the utility bills based on the size of their respective bedrooms.
The judicial panel must apportion the responsibility for the environmental disaster among the three chemical firms.
formalThe judicial panel must apportion the responsibility for the environmental disaster among the three chemical firms.
You shouldn't try to apportion all the blame to me when you were the one who lost the map.
informalYou shouldn't try to apportion all the blame to me when you were the one who lost the map.
Economists study how different regimes apportion national wealth to social welfare programs versus military spending.
academicEconomists study how different regimes apportion national wealth to social welfare programs versus military spending.
Our primary task this quarter is to apportion the marketing budget effectively across our international branches.
businessOur primary task this quarter is to apportion the marketing budget effectively across our international branches.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
equitably apportion
equitably apportion
apportion according to
apportion according to
reapportion seats
reapportion seats
Often Confused With
Allocate focuses on setting something aside for a specific purpose, whereas apportion focuses on the proportional division of a whole among parts.
Proportion is usually a noun referring to a part-to-whole relationship, while apportion is the verb for the act of dividing it.
Usage Notes
Apportion is most frequently used in legal and political contexts, particularly regarding the distribution of legislative seats or the division of financial liabilities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'apportion' for simple physical cutting (like 'apportioning bread'), but it should be reserved for more abstract or systematic distributions of assets or concepts like guilt.
Memory Tip
Look at the word 'portion' inside 'apportion'. To apportion is to make sure everyone gets their fair 'portion' of a total.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old French 'aporcionner', based on the Latin 'portionem' meaning 'a part or share'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the United States, 'apportionment' is a specific constitutional process used to distribute the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states based on census data.
Quick Quiz
The committee had to _______ the limited research grants among dozens of deserving applicants.
Correct!
The correct answer is: apportion
Related Vocabulary
A percentage is a rate, number, or amount in each hundred, u...
allocationThe process of giving out or distributing something, especia...
allotmentTo assign or distribute a specific portion of something, suc...
quotaA quota is a fixed amount or number of something that is all...
dividendA dividend is a portion of a company's profit that is paid t...
Related Words
proceed
C1The noun form, typically used in the plural 'proceeds,' refers to the total amount of money received from a particular event, sale, or activity. It is a formal term used in academic, legal, and business contexts to describe the result of a financial transaction or fundraising effort.
individual
C1Relating to a single person or thing as distinct from a group. It describes something that is intended for, or used by, one person rather than a collective entity.
appropriately
B2To perform an action in a manner that is suitable, right, or proper for a particular situation, person, or occasion. It implies following specific social norms, professional standards, or logical requirements.
region
B2A region is an area of land that has common features, such as geography, climate, or culture, which distinguish it from other areas. It can refer to a large part of a country or the world and is often used in administrative or scientific contexts to organize space.
resource
B2A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. In academic and informational contexts, it refers to a source of information or expertise used to support research or learning.
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
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