alimony
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.”
How to use alimony
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCourt-ordered payments from one ex-spouse to another after a divorce.
In the UK this is usually called "spousal maintenance"; "alimony" is the more common term in American English.
Word forms
alimonies plural
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
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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".
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