expropriation Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun taking out of an owner's hands (especially taking property by public authority)

WordNet

Ex*pro`pri*a"tion noun
Etymology
Cf. F. expropriation.
Definitions
  1. The act of expropriating; the surrender of a claim to exclusive property; the act of depriving of ownership or proprietary rights. W. Montagu.
    The expropriation of bad landlords. M. Arnold.

Webster 1913