noun
dividend
DIH-vih-dehnd
noun
1
A payment made by a company to its shareholders out of its profits, usually on a regular schedule.
"The bank paid out a higher dividend this year after a strong set of results."
"Reinvesting your dividends can significantly boost long-term returns."
2
In mathematics, the number that is being divided by another number.
"In 20 ÷ 4, the number 20 is the dividend."
3
A worthwhile benefit that results from earlier effort, time, or investment.
"Years of training paid dividends when she won the championship."
How to Use Dividend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly, the cash a company shares out with its shareholders — but it can also mean the number being divided in a sum, or a payoff from past effort.
Common pairings
pay a dividend
dividend yield
pay dividends (figuratively)
Word Forms
dividended past tense, dividends plural, dividends singular
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Etymology
From Latin dīvidendum, "thing to be divided", the future passive form of dīvidō, "to divide".