# alimony

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæl.ɪ.mə.ni/ · frequency rank #25,653

## Definitions
1. A court-mandated allowance made to a former spouse by a divorced or legally separated person.
2. Nourishment, sustenance, especially for one's spirit.

## Etymology
Known since the 17th century, from Latin alimōnia (“food, support, nourishment, sustenance”) (English aliment, as in alimentary), itself from alō (“to nourish”) + -mōnia (“action, state, condition”).

## Easily confused with
- **Alison** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alimony-vs-alison)
- **almond** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alimony-vs-almond)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ailmony`, `alimmony`, `alimnoy`, `alimonny`, `alimonyy`, `alimoyn`, `aliomny`, `allimony`, `almiony`, `laimony`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/alimony