dividend

[div-i-dend]

noun

1. Mathematics.,  a number that is to be divided by a divisor.

2. Law.,  a sum out of an insolvent estate paid to creditors.

3. Finance.

   1. a pro-rata share in an amount to be distributed.

   2. a sum of money paid to shareholders of a corporation out of earnings.

4. Insurance.,  (in participating insurance) a distribution to a policyholder of a portion of the premium not needed by the company to pay claims or to meet expenses.

5. a share of anything divided.

   Synonyms: portion, allotment

6. anything received as a bonus, reward, or in addition to or beyond what is expected.

   Swimming is fun, and gives you the dividend of better health.

dividend

/ ˈdɪvɪˌdɛnd /

noun

1. finance

   1. a distribution from the net profits of a company to its shareholders

   2. a pro-rata portion of this distribution received by a shareholder

2. the share of a cooperative society's surplus allocated at the end of a period to members

3. insurance a sum of money distributed from a company's net profits to the holders of certain policies

4. something extra; bonus

5. a number or quantity to be divided by another number or quantity Compare divisor

6. law the proportion of an insolvent estate payable to the creditors

dividend

1. A number divided by another. In the equation 15 ÷ 3 = 5, 15 is the dividend.

dividend

1. A payment to the stockholders of a corporation from the corporation's earnings.

Other Word Forms

• superdividend noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dividend¹

First recorded in 1470–80; from Latin dīvidendum “thing to be divided,” neuter gerund of dīvidere “to separate”; divide

Word History and Origins

Origin of dividend¹

C15: from Latin dīvidendum what is to be divided; see _divide

Example Sentences

Since taking on its contract under the previous government in 2019, Clearsprings Ready Homes has paid almost the same amount it has earned in profits - £183m - in dividends to its parent company.

Read more on BBC

This may be soft-pedaling matters somewhat — to read the historical accounts might give you a different picture — but as drama it pays dividends.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

You’re more likely to get dividends from “Jay Kelly” if you put stock in the Hollywood machine.

Read more on Salon

"I do not consider it safe, in general, to treat anything Mr Shah says for himself or about the Danish dividend tax refund factory he created as reliable evidence of fact," said Mr Justice Baker.

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The dividends the privately owned company plans to pay are a 75% increase from the £63m paid out to its owners the previous year.

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Related Words

• allowance 
• bonus 
• coupon 
• gain 
• premium 
• proceeds 
• remittance 
• reward 
• surplus