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. See divisor
   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

/ dĭv′ĭ-dĕnd′ /

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 Words From

• super·divi·dend 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

Aurora’s hope is that its narrow focus on “the Driver” — the hardware and software system for controlling the car — rather than building the vehicle itself or maintaining a ride-sharing service, will pay dividends.

From Ozy

So, long term, the strategy of challenging incumbents could pay dividends for the left.

From FiveThirtyEight

If you devote a little bit of your time and effort to these lists, they will pay great dividends to come search campaigns.

From Search Engine Watch

George Tzougros, executive director, Wisconsin Arts BoardSuch initiatives are paying dividends.

From Ozy

The know-how to fine-tune your searches will help you become a better SEO and pay dividends over the long term.

From Search Engine Watch

Since then, all dividend payments have been frozen and Iran receives “no uranium or revenue from the mine.”

From The Daily Beast

In exchange for the cash, Fannie and Freddie issued preferred stock to Treasury that was supposed to pay 10 percent dividend.

From The Daily Beast

Fannie Mae in September paid a $10.2 billion dividend and Freddie Mac paid a $4.4 billion dividend.

From The Daily Beast

The company also announced Tuesday that it would jack up its quarterly dividend by 26.7 percent, from 30 cents to 38 percent.

From The Daily Beast

Most of that money will be shipped home to the U.S. and passed out to shareholders at extremely favorable dividend taxation rates.

From The Daily Beast

Financial depression had succeeded a time of wild excitement, and the Midland dividend had fallen from seven to two per cent.

From Project Gutenberg

He appeared before the shareholders, offered, if his advice and methods were adopted, to guarantee double the then dividend.

From Project Gutenberg

But a bank can retain a dividend that has been declared to reduce the indebtedness of the owner to the bank for his stock.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the most cheerful things a corporation can do is to declare a dividend, especially if it be a large one.

From Project Gutenberg

Whether a dividend shall be declared, and also the amount, are questions lying largely within the discretion of the directors.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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