apportion

Everyday

1. (formal) To apportion something is to divide it and share it out among people. tree →
2. (formal) To apportion blame is to decide how much each person is responsible for something bad. tree →

In the lessons

A formal, exam-style word. In maths problems it means share out, sometimes equally and sometimes in a ratio: «apportion 60 pounds between Ann and Ben in the ratio 2:1» gives 40 and 20. In news: «apportion blame».

Examples

• The prize money was apportioned among the winners. tree →
• Apportion 36 sweets equally among 4 children: 9 each. tree →
• The costs were apportioned according to use. tree →
• It's hard to apportion blame for the accident. tree →
• The land was apportioned between the two brothers. tree →
• Apportion the time fairly between the tasks. tree →

Note

Double «p». Formal; simpler: share out, divide. In maths, with a ratio a:b, first find a + b parts, then each part = total ÷ (a + b).