dividend

American  

[div-i-dend] / ˈdɪv ɪˌdɛnd /

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.

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dividend British  

/ 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

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dividend Scientific  

/ dĭv′ĭ-dĕnd′ /

1. A number divided by another. In the equation 15 ÷ 3 = 5, 15 is the dividend.

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dividend Cultural  

1. A payment to the stockholders of a corporation from the corporation's earnings.

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Other Word Forms

• superdividend noun

Etymology

Origin of dividend

First recorded in 1470–80; from Latin dīvidendum “thing to be divided,” neuter gerund of dīvidere “to separate”; divide

Example Sentences

There’s also an opportunity cost: Gold doesn’t generate income or dividends, so any money you put in results in lost income, points out Charles E. Rinehart, chief investment officer of Johnson Investment Counsel in Cincinnati.

From Barron's

He added that the industry has been too slow to deliver equipment to the military and yet pays “massive” dividends to shareholders.

From Barron's

The fund requires such high dividend yields that it has 0% in tech, but double-digit-size holdings in utilities, healthcare, energy, financial services, and consumer defensive stocks.

From Barron's

He added that the industry has been too slow to deliver equipment to the military and yet pays “massive” dividends to shareholders.

From Barron's

“Investors don’t care about energy dominance. They care about energy dividends,” said Clay Seigle, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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