Divestment: meaning, definitions and examples

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divestment

 

[ dɪˈvɛstmənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

financial strategy

The action or process of selling off subsidiary business interests or investments.

Synonyms

disinvestment, liquidation, sale

Examples of usage

  • The company decided on divestment of its non-core assets to focus on its main business operations.
  • After the divestment of the overseas division, the company saw a significant increase in profits.
Context #2 | Noun

social movement

The act of selling investments in companies or industries that are considered unethical or morally unacceptable.

Synonyms

cancellation, dissociation, withdrawal

Examples of usage

  • The divestment campaign aimed to pressure the company to stop supporting fossil fuel projects.
  • Many universities have committed to divestment from companies involved in human rights violations.

Translations

Translations of the word "divestment" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desinvestimento

🇮🇳 निवेश हटाना

🇩🇪 Desinvestition

🇮🇩 divestasi

🇺🇦 виведення капіталу

🇵🇱 dezinwestycja

🇯🇵 売却

🇫🇷 désinvestissement

🇪🇸 desinversión

🇹🇷 yatırım azaltma

🇰🇷 투자 철회

🇸🇦 تخلي عن الاستثمار

🇨🇿 divestice

🇸🇰 divestment

🇨🇳 剥离投资

🇸🇮 divesticija

🇮🇸 afskipt

🇰🇿 инвестициядан бас тарту

🇬🇪 დაზღვევის შემცირება

🇦🇿 investisiyadan imtina

🇲🇽 desinversión

Etymology

The term 'divestment' originated in the financial sector, referring to the process of selling off assets or investments. However, it gained broader popularity in the 1980s with the rise of social movements advocating for divestment from companies involved in apartheid in South Africa. Since then, divestment has been used as a strategy to promote ethical and sustainable practices in both finance and social activism.

See also: divest, vest, veste, vestment.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,706, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.