以上四个单词均有“扶养费用”的含义。alimony为“扶养费”，指夫妻双方在分居、婚姻诉讼或离婚时法院命令一方配偶向另一方配偶支付的维持生活等费用，也称为spousal support、 maintenance或estover[1]。相比之下，alimony为过去所用词，现法院更常用 maintenance 或 spousal support 作为其替代。palimony 则为法院判处的同居者分手后一方支付给另一方的扶养费，其为 pal (同居伙伴，即 live-in partner)和 alimony 混成（blending) 而得的一个新词，在美国，一些州在特定情况下曾有过此种“扶养费”判给的先例[2]。galimony指同性同居者分手后一方支付给另一方的抚养费，其为gal与palimony混成的新词[3]。

[1 ] " A court-ordered allowance that one spouse pays to the other spouse for maintenance and support while they are separated, while they are involved in a matrimonial lawsuit， or after they are divorced. ” Cf. Bryan A. Garner, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 73，West Group (1999).
[2 ] "An alimony-like financial provision upon the breakup of an unmarried couple who lived together. The courts in some states have expressed a willingness to make such awards in limited circumstance. ” Cf. James E. Clapp, Random House Webster's Dictionary of the Law, at p. 317，Random House (2000).
[3 ] Cf. Gail J. Koff, Practical Guide to Everyday Law, at p. 217, Simon & Schuster, Inc. (1985).