ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Appropriation (law)

Hello there kiddo, appropriation is a big word that means taking something that doesn't belong to you without permission. In law, appropriation means taking someone else's property or money without their consent, and it is illegal.

It’s just like taking someone’s toy at school without asking them first. That’s not right, is it? The same thing goes for taking someone’s things or money without asking them.

In the law world, appropriation is considered a type of theft. It can happen in different forms- sometimes it's easy to spot, like if somebody steals something right in front of you, and sometimes it's more complex or sneaky, like if someone looks into your bank account without your permission or takes your credit card and buys things with it.

If you ever notice someone taking something that doesn’t belong to them or doing something with your things or money that you didn’t allow, make sure to tell a grown-up so they can help you solve the problem.