apportion

To divide and distribute portions of a whole.

Verb

  1. To divide and distribute portions of a whole.
    • The controlling party had apportioned the voting districts such that their party would be favored in the next election.
  2. Specifically, to do so in a fair and equitable manner; to allocate proportionally.
    • The children were required to dump all of their Halloween candy on the table so that their parents could apportion it among them.
    • The Good Friday Agreement did not, and could not, apportion blame for the Troubles, in which, as in so many such conflicts, one side’s terrorist is the other’s hero. - 2023 April 10, The Editorial Board, “Biden’s Trip...

Origin

From Middle French apportionner, from Old French aporcioner, from Late Latin apportionare, from Latin ad + portio. By surface analysis, ap- + portion.

Forms

apportions apportioning apportioned

Synonyms

allocate allot dispense parcel out share out

Antonyms

amass concentrate consolidate gather reassemble

Derived

apportionable apportioner apportionment reapportion unapportioned