alimony

American  

[al-uh-moh-nee] / ˈæl əˌmoʊ ni /

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.

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alimony British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• alimonied adjective

Etymology

Origin of alimony

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

Compare meaning

How does alimony compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• palimony vs. alimony

Example Sentences

She said her alimony was low enough to make her eligible for food stamps.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The court may also award alimony, which is financial support that helps a dependent spouse,” the law firm adds.

From MarketWatch

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

From MarketWatch

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.

From Salon

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.

From Salon