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

The outlet noted that according to sealed court documents, Hunter had been receiving $37,500 per month in alimony from Williams for years. —Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025

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

All alimony and spousal support claims are hereby forever waived by the parties. —Sean Mandell, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025

The agreement, dated April 17, 2025, resolves all issues related to property division and alimony. —Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 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