dividend

Everyday

1. (maths) The number being divided in a division sum: in 12 ÷ 3 = 4, the dividend is 12. tree →
2. (money) A share of a company's profit paid to people who own shares in it. tree →
3. A benefit or reward that comes later from something you did, as in «pay dividends». tree →

In the lessons

In school maths, dividend ÷ divisor = quotient: the dividend is the number you start with. In money lessons, shareholders receive dividends. In everyday talk, «hard work will pay dividends» means it will bring good results later. Phrases: «pay dividends», «dividend ÷ divisor = quotient».

Examples

• In 20 ÷ 5 = 4, the dividend is 20. tree →
• Write the dividend inside the bus-stop division box. tree →
• The company paid a dividend to its shareholders. tree →
• Grandma gets a small dividend every year from her shares. tree →
• Practising spelling will pay dividends in the test. tree →
• If the dividend is 0, the answer is 0. tree →

Note

Countable. In maths: dividend = divisor × quotient + remainder. Trap: do not mix up dividend (the number divided) and divisor (the number you divide by). «Pay dividends» is an idiom meaning bring benefits.