dividend

noun

div·​i·​dend ˈdi-və-ˌdend How to pronounce dividend (audio)
-dənd
1
: an individual share of something distributed: such as
a
: a share in a pro rata distribution (as of profits) to stockholders
Profits are distributed to shareholders as dividends.
b
: a share of surplus allocated to a policyholder in a participating insurance policy
2
a
: a resultant return or reward
our efforts are finally paying dividends
b
: bonus
3
a
mathematics : a number to be divided
b
: a sum or fund to be divided and distributed
dividendless adjective

Examples of dividend in a Sentence

Profits are distributed to shareholders as dividends. the reward money was an unexpected dividend for our good deed
Recent Examples on the Web This high cadence partially reflects the fact that the rest of the world is catching up with the NASA of the nineteen-sixties; lunar exploration is now a feasible national pursuit that can pay scientific and technological dividends. David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Last February Peltz withdrew his demands when Disney announced plans to eliminate 7,000 jobs, slash $5.5 billion from its budget and restore dividends. Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Dividend Topples Following those heavy charges, St James’ Place slashed the final dividend for 2023 to 8p per share. Royston Wild, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 He’s also received billions of dollars in dividends over the years that he’s reinvested through his family office Elysium Management, which is run by Bradley Wechsler and invests in real estate and private equity. Ben Stupples, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 This one is an investment, for sure, but one that will pay in stylish dividends. Paula Lee, Glamour, 26 Feb. 2024 Ford declared first-quarter regular and supplemental dividends of 15 cents per share and 18 cents per share, respectively, payable March 1 to shareholders of record on Feb. 16. The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 Zoom’s Original Mission: Make Communications Frictionless Zoom’s focus on effortless onboarding and user experience paid huge dividends during the pandemic. Roger Dooley, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The dividend policy of Network-1 undergoes a periodic review by the Board of Directors and is subject to change at any time depending on the earnings of Network-1, its financial requirements and other factors existing at the time. Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dividend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English divident, from Latin dividendus, gerundive of dividere — see divide entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dividend was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near dividend

Cite this Entry

“Dividend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dividend. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dividend

noun
div·​i·​dend ˈdiv-ə-ˌdend How to pronounce dividend (audio)
-əd-ənd
1
: a sum to be divided and given out
2
: bonus
3
: a number to be divided by another

Legal Definition

dividend

noun
div·​i·​dend ˈdi-və-ˌdend How to pronounce dividend (audio)
1
: the part of corporate net earnings distributed usually periodically (as quarterly) to stockholders in the form of cash, additional shares, or property either as a set amount per share or a percentage of par value
constructive dividend
: a benefit (as unreasonable compensation or use of corporate property) or transfer of funds from a corporation to a shareholder that is interpreted by a taxing authority as a dividend
cumulative dividend
: a dividend distributed to preferred stockholders that is added to and paid with the next payment or future payments if not paid when due
extraordinary dividend
: a dividend declared in addition to a regular dividend because of unanticipated profits or a nonrecurring increase of revenue
2
: a share of the surplus earnings of a mutual insurance company paid to policyholders either in the form of cash disbursements or through reduction of premiums
3
: a payment disbursed to investors from the income of a mutual fund

More from Merriam-Webster on dividend

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