Definition of alimony
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
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Recent Examples of alimony from the Web
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In 1985, the Supreme Court ordered the husband of a 62-year-old divorced Muslim woman to pay her alimony of about $15 a month.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alimony'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of alimony
Latin alimonia sustenance, from alere
First Known Use: circa 1613
ALIMONY Defined for English Language Learners
alimony
playDefinition of alimony for English Language Learners
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: money that a court orders someone to pay regularly to a former wife or husband after a divorce
ALIMONY Defined for Kids
alimony
playDefinition of alimony for Students
: money for living expenses paid regularly by one spouse to another after their legal separation or divorce
Law Dictionary
alimony
playLegal Definition of alimony
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
Origin and Etymology of alimony
Latin alimonia sustenance, from alere to nourish
Learn More about alimony
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See words that rhyme with alimony Spanish Central: Translation of alimony Nglish: Translation of alimony for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of alimony for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alimony
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