apportionment

[ uh-pawr-shuh n-muh nt, uh-pohr- ]
/ əˈpɔr ʃən mənt, əˈpoʊr- /

noun

the act of apportioning.
the determination of the number of members of the U.S. House of Representatives according to the proportion of the population of each state to the total population of the U.S.
the apportioning of members of any other legislative body.

Origin of apportionment

First recorded in 1620–30; apportion + -ment

OTHER WORDS FROM apportionment

non·ap·por·tion·ment, noun pro·ap·por·tion·ment, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for apportionment

British Dictionary definitions for apportionment

apportionment
/ (əˈpɔːʃənmənt) /

noun

the act of apportioning
US government the proportional distribution of the seats in a legislative body, esp the House of Representatives, on the basis of population

Cultural definitions for apportionment

apportionment

The allocation of seats in a legislature or of taxes according to a plan. In the United States Congress, for example, the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives is based on the relative population of each state, whereas the apportionment in the Senate is based on equal representation for every state. (See also gerrymander.)