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.

---

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

---

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; cf. aliment

Compare meaning

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

• palimony vs. alimony

Explanation

When a couple gets divorced, the court might order the one spouse to pay alimony to the other, which is like an allowance for basic expenses like food and shelter. Although these days we only use the word alimony when we talk about divorce, it comes from a Latin word alere, meaning to nourish. Traditionally it was the husband’s job to take care of his wife’s nourishment, and women raising children needed alimony payments to live on after a divorce or separation. Nowadays it might be the dad staying at home, and the working wife who pays alimony after a divorce.

Example Sentences

Alimony may help soothe the pain somewhat, but it’s an unfair sacrifice for the emotional, and potentially financial, devastation.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 1, 2023

Alimony, also known as spousal support or maintenance, is typically paid by the higher-earning spouse for a period of time after a divorce.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2018

Week 1194, fake derivations of words: Alimony: from Old English, for “all his money.”

From Washington Post • Jan. 12, 2017

Cleese has also spoken about having to pay a large chunk of his wealth to his third wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger after their divorce, even embarking on his Alimony Tour in 2011.

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2015

A woman should be absolute mistress of herself," said Miss Alimony, "absolute mistress of her person.

From The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)