What does reapportioned mean?
Reapportion is a formal verb meaning to divide or distribute something again, usually after the original allocation has become unsuitable or unfair. It is especially common in discussions of public finances, resources, representation, and electoral districts. For example, a government may reapportion tax revenue among departments or revise the allocation of parliamentary seats following new population figures. Although the total amount being divided may remain unchanged, reapportioning changes who receives each share or how the whole is divided. The word can also refer more broadly to assigning a new portion of work, responsibility, or attention. Related terms include apportion, meaning an initial division into shares, and reallocate, which can mean transferring resources to a different purpose. Reapportion therefore carries the specific implication of a revised second division or distribution.
verbTo divide or distribute something again, especially in a different way or among different recipients. It can also mean to assign a new share or allocation of something.
- To divide or distribute something again, especially among different recipients or in a new way.
- To assign a new share or portion of something to someone or something.
"The committee decided to reapportion the funding among the regional branches."
"The new law reapportioned the tax revenue to benefit local schools."
"After the population estimates were revised, the state reapportioned its representatives."
Reapportioning is the verbal equivalent of changing the seats after an election: the total may stay the same, but who gets what can shift.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reapportioned come from?
Reapportion combines the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with apportion, from Old French apportionner, “to divide into portions.” Apportion ultimately draws on Latin ad-, meaning “to,” and portio, meaning “share” or “portion.” The related word proportion entered English through Latin proportio and retains the same underlying idea of a share or relationship between parts.
Related word forms
How reapportioned is actually used
Reapportion is formal and especially common in government, law, finance, and representative bodies. It usually implies a second division or adjustment of something that was already divided.
Easily confused with reapportioned
Apportion generally means to divide and assign shares for the first time, whereas reapportion means to do so again, often after an earlier allocation has changed.
Reallocate is broader and can involve moving funds, materials, or responsibilities to a different purpose, while reapportion more specifically implies dividing a total into new shares.