misappropriation
1. [ noun ] (law,criminal law) the fraudulent appropriation of funds or property entrusted to your care but actually owned by someone else
Synonyms: peculation defalcation misapplication embezzlement
Related terms: larceny raid plunderage embezzle
2. [ noun ] wrongful borrowing
Examples:

"his explanation was a misappropriation of sociological theory"

Related terms: borrowing
Similar spelling:   misappropriate
  misappropriated
  mispronunciation
  misapprehension