misappropriatemis·ap·pro·pri·ate /ˌmɪsəˈprəʊprieɪt-ˈproʊ-/ verb [transitiveT]LAW to dishonestly take something, especially money, that you have been trusted to keep safe, and to use it for your own advantageHe was accused of misappropriating funds amounting to £4 million.
Building materials had been misappropriated for private use.
—misappropriation noun [uncountableU]allegations of gross misappropriation of funds