annuity

noun

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an·nu·i·ty | \ ə-ˈnü-ə-tē

, -ˈnyü- \

plural annuities

Definition of annuity

1 : a sum of money payable yearly or at other regular intervals

2 : the right to receive an annuity

3 : a contract or agreement providing for the payment of an annuity

Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about annuity

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Did You Know?

This is a payment made at a fixed interval. A common example is the payment received by retirees from their pension plan. There are two main classes of annuities: annuities certain and contingent annuities. Under an annuity certain, a specified number of payments are made, after which the annuity stops. With a contingent annuity, each payment depends on the continuance of a given status; for example, a life annuity continues only as long as the recipient survives. Contingent annuities depend on shared risk. Everyone pays in until the annuity begins; some will live long enough to collect more than they have paid, while others will not live long enough to get back the money they invested.

Examples of annuity in a Sentence

Part of her retirement income will come from an annuity. his grandfather's will provided him with an annuity of $5,000 a year to be used for school expenses

Recent Examples on the Web For those student-athletes, colleges would set up an annuity funded by up to $10,000. — Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, "Alabama lawmakers weighing in on pay for college athletes," 5 Apr. 2021 But if those income sources won't cover your basic expenses, buying an annuity can make up the gap. — Carla Fried, Star Tribune, "In personal finance, simple is almost always better," 6 Mar. 2021 An earlier contract shows the district paid Galatolo an annuity $100,000 a year, beginning in 2016. — San Francisco Chronicle, "San Mateo college board fires highest paid employee, citing secret unethical practices," 8 Feb. 2021 Wilton Re agreed to pay $220 million to buy Allstate Life Insurance Co. of New York in a transaction that will complete Allstate’s exit from the life and annuity market, according to a statement Monday. — Katherine Chiglinsky, chicagotribune.com, "Allstate to take $4 billion net loss this quarter on life sales," 29 Mar. 2021 The surviving spouses of federal employees who have worked for the government for 10 years as Sammons had are entitled to receive a death benefit and annuity. — Washington Post, "Same-sex spouse fights government denial of death benefits in test for Biden administration," 18 Mar. 2021 IFC National Marketing, a 20-person firm of health insurance and annuity experts that is based in Fairmont, has been acquired by a leading independent distributor of life and health insurance products. — Patrick Kennedy, Star Tribune, "Fairmont firm one of latest acquisitions by insurance industry consolidator," 29 Jan. 2021 The club opted to receive a one-time lump sum payment of about $776 million instead of annuity payments for the full amount. — Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, "Oakland County lottery club claims $1B Mega Millions jackpot sold in Novi," 12 Mar. 2021 The issue was over whether the federal government could garnish 25 percent of Uresti’s monthly annuity before what Elizondo received as alimony under the terms of her divorce settlement. — Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, "Ex-wife of jailed San Antonio politician sues adult nightclub for allegedly using her Facebook photo," 5 Feb. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'annuity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

2 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Annuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annuity. Accessed 14 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for annuity

annuity

noun

English Language Learners Definition of annuity

: a fixed amount of money that is paid to someone each year

: an insurance policy or an investment that pays someone a fixed amount of money each year

See the full definition for annuity in the English Language Learners Dictionary

annuity

noun

an·nu·ity | \ ə-ˈnü-ə-tē

, -ˈnyü- \

plural annuities

Kids Definition of annuity

: a sum of money paid yearly or at other regular intervals

annuity

noun

an·nu·ity | \ ə-ˈnü-ə-tē, -ˈnyü-

plural annuities

Legal Definition of annuity

1 : an amount payable at regular intervals (as yearly or quarterly) for a certain or uncertain period

2 : the grant of or the right to receive an annuity his will included annuities for several old friends

3 : a contract (as with an insurance company) under which one or more persons receive annuities in return for prior fixed payments made by themselves or another (as an employer)

— annuity certain plural annuities certain

: an annuity payable over a specified period even if the annuitant dies

— annuity due plural annuities due

: an immediate annuity in which the payment of the benefits is made at the beginning of each payment interval rather than at the end

— contingent annuity

: an annuity whose starting or ending date depends on the occurrence of an event (as the death of the annuitant) whose date is uncertain

— conventional annuity

: an annuity under which the annuitant receives a specified minimum amount at each payment — compare variable annuity in this entry

— deferred annuity

: an annuity in which payment of benefits is delayed until a particular time (as at retirement) — compare immediate annuity in this entry

— group annuity

: a pension plan paying annuity benefits at retirement for all eligible persons under a single master contract usually issued to an employer for the benefit of its employees

— immediate annuity

: an annuity purchased with a single premium in which payment of benefits begins within the first payment interval (as within a year) — compare deferred annuity in this entry

— joint-and-survivor annuity

: an annuity payable as long as any of the two or more annuitants remains alive

— called also joint-and-last-survivor annuity, joint and survivorship annuity, joint life and survivorship annuity

— compare joint life annuity in this entry

— joint life annuity

: an annuity payable only until the death of any of the annuitants

— called also joint annuity

— compare joint-and-survivor annuity in this entry

— life annuity

: an annuity payable during the annuitant's lifetime and terminating at death

— called also straight life annuity

— life income-period certain annuity

: an annuity that guarantees a minimum number of payments even if the annuitant dies before the minimum amount is paid or a minimum number of payments plus income for life if the annuitant is still alive after the minimum amount is paid

— refund annuity

: an annuity in which payments to the annuitant or to the annuitant's estate or to a beneficiary are guaranteed to equal at least the amount of the premium paid for the annuity

— straight life annuity

: life annuity in this entry

— variable annuity \ ˈver-ē-ə-bəl- \

: an annuity that is backed primarily by a fund of common stocks and whose payments go up or down depending on how well the stocks perform — compare conventional annuity in this entry, variable life insurance at life insurance