noun
alimony
AL-ih-muh-nee
Alimony (noun) means Financial support that one former spouse is legally required to pay the other after a divorce or separation. Example: “He was ordered to pay alimony to his ex-wife for five years.”
noun
1
Financial support that one former spouse is legally required to pay the other after a divorce or separation.
"He was ordered to pay alimony to his ex-wife for five years."
"She waived her right to alimony as part of the settlement."
How to use alimony
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCourt-ordered payments from one ex-spouse to another after a divorce.
UK vs US
In the UK this is usually called "spousal maintenance"; "alimony" is the more common term in American English.
Common pairings
pay alimony
alimony payments
spousal alimony
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like alimony.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- alimonies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was ordered to pay _____ to his ex-wife for five years.
Etymology
From Latin alimonia ("nourishment, sustenance"), from alere ("to nourish") — the same root as "aliment".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for alimony
See all rhymes for alimony →Frequently asked questions
What does “alimony” mean?
The word “alimony” means financial support that one former spouse is legally required to pay the other after a divorce or separation. In plain terms, court-ordered payments from one ex-spouse to another after a divorce.
How do you pronounce “alimony”?
“Alimony” is pronounced AL-ih-muh-nee (/ˈæl.ə.moʊ.ni/ in IPA).
How do you use “alimony” in a sentence?
Here is “alimony” used in a sentence: “He was ordered to pay alimony to his ex-wife for five years.”
What part of speech is “alimony”?
“Alimony” is a noun.
Where does the word “alimony” come from?
The word “alimony” comes from Latin. From Latin alimonia ("nourishment, sustenance"), from alere ("to nourish") — the same root as "aliment".
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include alimony:
