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. See maintenance
   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 Words From

• ali·monied 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

In her later years, Larsen worked as a nurse after her alimony from her then-ex-husband stopped after his death.

From Time

Some want to retain Social Security benefits or alimony from a former spouse.

From Time

Use this form for any income that isn’t subject to withholding, like earnings from self-employment, rent paid to you and alimony.

From ProPublica

More specifically, she is using his death as a rallying cry for alimony reform and raising the question: Is alimony anti-feminist?

From The Daily Beast

Today, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Connecticut, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Florida all have lifetime alimony statutes.

From The Daily Beast

“I am a fan of alimony reform and I am a fan of the law Massachusetts passed in 2011,” Wood told me.

From The Daily Beast

And today, the critics of lifetime alimony are not just husbands and their new wives.

From The Daily Beast

In the last three decades, courts have begun to apply gender parity to the awarding of alimony.

From The Daily Beast

In Ireland the mother is not allowed to claim alimony herself—she must go into the workhouse and the guardians must sue for her.

From Project Gutenberg

Until he had met Rue Carew he had taken measures to fight the statutory charges, hoping to involve Venem and escape alimony.

From Project Gutenberg

In a recent suit for alimony a wealthy New Yorker complained that his wife used a diamond-studded watch for a golf tee.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing in the nature of alimony, except the dwelling, is commonly given by either party to a divorce.

From Project Gutenberg

The lady's lawyer thereupon moved for the appointment of a referee, as well as for counsel fee and alimony.

From Project Gutenberg