alimony

[al-uh-moh-nee]

noun

1. Law.,  an allowance paid to a person by that person's spouse or former spouse for maintenance, granted by a court upon a legal separation or a divorce or while action is pending.

2. supply of the means of living; maintenance.

alimony

/ ˈælɪmənɪ /

noun

1. law (formerly) an allowance paid under a court order by one spouse to another when they are separated but not divorced See also maintenance

Other Word Forms

• alimonied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alimony¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin alimōnia “nourishment, sustenance,” from ali- (stem of alere “to feed, nourish, support”) + -mōnia -mony; aliment

Word History and Origins

Origin of alimony¹

C17: from Latin alimōnia sustenance, from alere to nourish

Example Sentences

Buffett spelled it out in his 2014 letter to Berkshire shareholders with all the subtlety of a divorce lawyer explaining alimony.

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From there, he does the math: alimony payments, two kids in private schools, multiple car payments, all the fancy bells and whistles of a life that is over-leveraged.

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Even with the threat of lost alimony hanging over her head, they can barely get Melania Trump to be around her husband, even for a photo-op.

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For Dorothy, her salary as a substitute teacher doesn’t let her build an adequate rainy day or retirement fund, even though she receives alimony from her ex-husband.

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A prenup can also have rules on other issues, like how to share custody of an animal or if alimony will be expected.

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