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

“The combined ordinary taxable income from the Roth conversion, taxable interest, and nonqualified dividends of $47,500 is completely wiped out by the total available deductions,” they said.

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There may be a peace dividend for asset markets after the historic agreement struck between Israel and the extremist group Hamas bringing an apparent end to a conflict that has raged for two years.

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Meanwhile, with further U.S. interest rate cuts expected in October and December, the appeal of non-yielding assets—which pay no dividends or interest payments like stocks or bonds—remains strong.

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Newbies might not know the ins and outs of a dividend, but they are drawn in by a gift, he added.

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Thanks to the Thailand company’s high free-cash-flow yields and sizable net cash position, the stock’s dividend yields are estimated at 10%-11% per year over 2025-2027, the analyst says.

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Related Words

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