alimony

noun

al·​i·​mo·​ny ˈa-lə-ˌmō-nē 

plural alimonies

1

: an allowance made to one spouse by the other for support pending or after legal separation or divorce

2

: the means of living : maintenance

Examples of alimony in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kimberly Younger, an accountant for Certified Brands and Electronics Row who is respected by Kevin Semcken as well as his sons, testified that the elder Semcken did use company funds to pay alimony to his ex-wife as well as for golf packages, ski passes and an auto loan. —Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025

Without the shackles of the prenup, Carrington demands property, alimony, and, most critically, a stake in the law firm. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 Nov. 2025

Prosecutors alleged that her motive in the slaying was to avoid paying alimony if the couple divorced. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025

Perhaps the bitterness refers to the alimony check? —Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin alimōnia, going back to Latin, "food, nourishment, nurture, upbringing," from alere "to nurse, supply with nutrition, support, maintain" + -mōnia, suffix of abstract nouns (going back to the Indo-European noun-forming suffix *-mĕ̄n-/*-mŏ̄n- + the abstract noun formative *-i-) — more at old entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for alimony

• abalone
• acrimony
• antimony
• ceremony
• chalcedony
• cicerone
• cosmogony
• eurozone
• lithopone
• macaroni
• matrimony
• naloxone

Kids Definition

alimony

noun

al·​i·​mo·​ny ˈal-ə-ˌmō-nē 

: money paid to one spouse by the other for support during or after divorce or separation

Legal Definition

alimony

noun

al·​i·​mo·​ny ˈa-lə-ˌmō-nē 

1

: an allowance made to one spouse by the other for support pending or after legal separation or divorce compare child support

— alimony in gross

: lump sum alimony in this entry

— alimony pendente lite \ -​pen-​ˈden-​tē-​ˈlī-​ˌtē, -​pen-​ˈden-​tā-​ˈlē-​tā \

: alimony granted pending a suit for divorce or separation that includes a reasonable allowance for the prosecution of the suit

called also temporary alimony

— lump sum alimony

: alimony awarded after divorce that is a specific vested amount not subject to change

called also alimony in gross

— permanent alimony

: alimony awarded after divorce which consists of payments at regular intervals that may change in amount or terminate (as upon the payee's remarriage)

— temporary alimony

: alimony pendente lite in this entry

2

: means of living, support, or maintenance

fathers and mothers owe alimony to their illegitimate children

—Louisiana Civil Code

Etymology

Latin alimonia sustenance, from alere to nourish