Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Law An allowance for support made under court order to a divorced person by the former spouse, usually the chief provider during the marriage. Alimony may also be granted without a divorce, as between legally separated persons.
- n. A means of livelihood; maintenance.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In law: An allowance which a husband or former husband may be forced to pay to his wife or former wife, living legally separate from him, for her maintenance. It is granted or withheld in the discretion of the matrimonial court, with regard to the merits of the case and the resources of the parties respectively. Alimony pendente lite is that given to the wife during the pendency of an action for divorce, separation, or annulment of marriage; permanent alimony is that given to a wife after judgment of divorce, separation, or annulment in her favor.
- n. In Scots law, aliment.
Wiktionary
- n. law A court-enforced allowance made to a former spouse by a divorced or legally separated person.
- n. The means to support life.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. Maintenance; means of living.
- n. (Law) An allowance made to a wife out of her husband's estate or income for her support, upon her divorce or legal separation from him, or during a suit for the same.
WordNet 3.0
- n. court-ordered support paid by one spouse to another after they are separated
Etymologies
- Known since 1655, from Latin alimonia ("food, support, nourishment, sustenance") (English aliment, as in alimentary), itself from alere ("to nourish") + -monia ("action, state, condition"). (Wiktionary)
- Latin alimōnia, sustenance, from alere, to nourish; see al-2 in Indo-European roots. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“Cynthia George, attorney for Lorrie Nantz, who had been seeking $1.5 million annually in alimony and child support, had no comment on the ruling.”
Fox's World Series TV ratings up 36% from 2008's record low mark
“The other thing to bear in mind is that in a long-term marriage of 30, 35 or 40 years, long term alimony often doesn't mean "long term" for the simple reason that people in their mid- to late 50's are often approaching retirement age.”
The Huffington Post: Henry Gornbein: When is Alimony Appropriate?
“Bonder Kerkorian originally sought $320,000 a month in alimony and child support.”
The Huffington Post: Kirk Kerkorian To Pay $10.25 Million In Child Support
“Feminists advocate for equality and independence for women, then turn around and expect men to support women in alimony, child custody, the alienation of fathers, and a blind eye to female battering.”
Subverting Patriarchy: Not just for chicks anymore. « A Bird’s Nest
“Even in the more common case of short-term alimony, courts are ditching that insulting "" rehab '' term, ordering larger monthly awards and arranging to check in five years to see how wives are doing.”
“In 1982 single white mothers received an average of $1,246 in alimony and child support, black mothers an average of $322.”
“Summing the case up, he said, "Well, my man, I am afraid you will have to pay one-third of your income in alimony to the woman you have left".”
“In that case", said the judge, "you will have to pay the third third of your income in alimony to this woman".”
“The law spells out exactly how long someone must be married to qualify for long-term alimony - and sets up different types of alimony for everyone else.”
“But the new law says long-term alimony cannot be considered for anyone who was married less than 17 years.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘alimony’.
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GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abdicate, aberrant, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhor, abject, abjure and 4087 more...
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Not in the Periodic Table
Words that sound like they might be the names of elements of the periodic table, but that aren't. Many of the words listed here were actually proposed as names for substances their creators thought...
tentorium, columbarium, nasturtium, deuterium, caladium, valerian, concordium, synangium, chorium, geranium, hymenium, pyrenium and 310 more...
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Interesting words
A list of words that are odd or words that I have looked up.
concupiscence, brize, scree, scoria, forestaff, spanaemia, valetudinarianism, distasture, pyrethrum, laudanum, gentian, bicameral and 11184 more...
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JURI - courtroom speak
Legal glossary with special focus on courtroom vocabulary
accused, acquittal, ADA, adjournment, adjudication, affidavit, affirmed, aggravated range, aggravating factors, allegation, alleged, answer and 794 more...
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Mony Mony
Here she comes now sayin' Mony Mony...
alimony, parsimony, antimony, acrimony, ceremony, harmony, hegemony, lemony, matrimony, sanctimony, simony, testimony and 25 more...
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Nouny
calumny, parsimony, gluttony, alimony, sanctimony, harmony, miscegeny, telephony, colony, antimony, larceny, mahogany and 26 more...
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SAT Vocab
Redundant.
problematic, proclivity, prodigal, prodigious, prodigy, profane, profligate, profound, profusion, proliferation, prolific, prologue and 455 more...
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hedges's Words
wii, crepuscule, adumbrate, concatenation, sufi, qawwali, furry, riot, mellifluous, conspiracy, etymology, tea cozy and 369 more...
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Time for a new list!
abrupt, erupt, rupture, sync, appropinquity, heterochromia, homochromatic, monochromatic, willy nilly, nitty gritty, kowtow, wonton and 455 more...
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Infinite Jest
Words to remember from DFW's "Infinite Jest"
wen, matriculation, circumflex, lapidary, effete, sotto, hypertrophy, presbyopic, ideogram, pinion, parquet, nelson and 152 more...
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Kavitha's Words
avarice, mellow, mahogany, serendipity, plush, vengeance, catalyst, plausible, penury, meticulous, sarcastic, ninja and 100 more...
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Money
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1906 Railway Cipher Code
Terms from the Standard Cipher Code of the American Railway Association, 1906. The terms were shorthand for common phrases used in telegraphic communications between station agents and Railway Asso...
abetting, abdominal, abiology, ablative, abnormal, abominate, aboveboard, abrasive, absinth, abstinent, accursed, acetate and 212 more...
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I am the law!
Words I learnt at law school
appeal, blackletter, contract, dictum, headnote, judgment, litigation, malfeasance, negligence, plaintiff, quantum, remedy and 216 more...
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pop ups
erstwhile, allegiance, sacked, reinstate, vengeance, affluent, sedative, maverick, caricatives, abandoned, faux pas, ambience and 245 more...
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essigurken's Words
transubstantiation, pungent, omnipotent, craven, 'tis, saucy, entwine, inextricably, consummation, conglomeration, sepulchre, addendum and 264 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for alimony.

hernesheir Railway telegraphers' shorthand for "Do they agree to?". --US Railway Assn. Standard Cipher Code, 1906. Jan 19, 2013
bilby "Alimony is like buying hay for a dead horse."
- Groucho Marx. Dec 23, 2007