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Definition of alimony

alimony

/ˈæl.əˌmoʊ.ni/
al · i · mo · ny
Plural:alimonies
•
Adjective:alimonial
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alimony Lexical Profile

alimony Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A court-ordered financial allowance paid by one spouse to the other for support during a legal separation or after a divorce.

Example

"As part of the divorce settlement, the judge ordered him to pay monthly alimony for five years."

2

Nourishment, sustenance, or the means of living (archaic).

Example

"In seventeenth-century texts, the word was still occasionally used to describe simple bodily alimony and daily provisions."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

In legal and everyday contexts, alimony is distinct from child support, which is designated specifically for the care and upbringing of children rather than the financial maintenance of a former spouse.

• Rhymes for alimony

• Nearby Words

alike
alikeness
alimentary
alimony
aling aling
alison
alive

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-17th century from Latin alimonia ('nourishment, sustenance'), derived from the verb alere ('to nourish or support').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Alimony. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/alimony
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