What does divi mean?
'Divi' is an informal British shortening of 'dividend'. It refers most characteristically to the periodic payment distributed to members of a building society or another mutual organisation, reflecting the tradition that members who hold accounts are also part-owners entitled to a share of the surplus. Historically the word was especially associated with the co-operative movement, where shoppers received a 'divi' on their purchases, and it extended to winnings in the football pools. Today it survives largely in nostalgic or regional usage, evoking an era when savers queued for their annual share-out. The plural is 'divis'. Because it is colloquial, it suits conversational speech and informal writing rather than formal financial documents, where 'dividend' is preferred.
nounA British informal shortening of 'dividend', most commonly referring to a payout from a building society account or a win in the football pools; it can also denote any periodic distribution of profits to shareholders.
- An informal British term for a dividend, especially a payout made by a building society or a mutual society such as the Co-operative movement.
- By extension, any winnings or share of proceeds distributed periodically, such as football pools winnings.
"The building society credited her annual divi straight into her savings account."
"Members voted to keep the annual divi rather than switch to higher interest rates."
"Grandad always put his football pools divi towards Christmas."
The standard plural simply adds -s; it is used when referring to multiple dividend payments or payouts across members or periods.
"The society has paid reliable divis every year since the 1950s."
Before online banking, generations of British savers waited eagerly for the annual 'divi' — the little payout that made their building society membership feel like owning a slice of the business.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of divi
'Divi' arose in the nineteenth century as a clipped, colloquial form of 'dividend', a word borrowed into English from Latin 'dividendum', meaning 'a thing to be divided', the gerundive of 'dividere' ('to divide'). The clipping reflects a common pattern in British informal English of trimming longer institutional terms. Its use was popularised by the co-operative movement and later by building societies and the football pools. It shares its Latin root with words such as 'divide', 'individual', and 'divisor'.
Related word forms
How divi is actually used
Informal and chiefly British; strongly associated with older institutions like building societies and the co-operative movement, so it can carry a slightly old-fashioned or nostalgic flavour.
Easily confused with divi
'Divvy' is a related but distinct informal word meaning a share or division of something (or, as slang, a foolish person), whereas 'divi' specifically means a dividend payment.