divestment

USAGE SUMMARY

'divestment' is correct and usable in written English.
Divestment is a noun that means the action of selling off part or all of an investment. It can be used when referring to the sale of stocks, bonds, properties, or other assets. For example: The company chose to pursue a divestment strategy in response to the stock market downturn.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund controls about $860m in assets, said Beth Dorsey, the chief executive of the Wallace Global Fund and the Divest-Invest movement, which has led the divestment campaign.

The Guardian

Related: The biggest story in the world podcast Braman founded the company after seeing divestment campaigner Bill McKibben present a talk in 2012.

The Guardian

Speaking to the Guardian ahead of this week's half-yearly meeting of the World Bank in Washington DC, Kim said he had been impressed by the energy of the divestment campaigns on university campuses in the US, aimed at persuading investors to remove their funds from fossil fuel companies.

The Guardian

Engagement is pretty weak tea: but divestment is weaker still in terms of practical effects: it just transfers shares to investors who don't care at all.

The Guardian

Related: Divestment campaign should discriminate between coal and gas | Letters But to do that they need to be able to move their money around more or less at will.

The Guardian

"There is a vibrant discussion about the best way to keep fossil fuels in the ground – from carbon taxation to divestment – but ending state and federal corporate welfare for polluters is one of the easiest places to start".

The Guardian

The divestment protestors however and particularly the students that are creating renewed furore at Oxford University, do have a next step.

The Guardian

The Guardian supports the fossil fuel divestment movement, and its Keep it in the Ground campaign has called on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust, world's two biggest health charities, to divest from coal.

The Guardian

But the Rockefellers' decision to cut their ties with oil lends the divestment campaign huge symbolic importance because of their family history.

The Guardian

Vince went further and suggested a divestment strategy could not work while we still consume fossil fuels.

The Guardian

After the event, Guardian members gave their thoughts, with member Justin Fisher saying he saw a "buzz of excitement" around divestment now because of the power it gave people to take action.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing ethical investing, clearly state the reasons for the "divestment", such as environmental concerns or social responsibility goals.

Common error

Avoid using "divestment" when you actually mean investment. "Divestment" refers to selling or withdrawing assets, while investment means putting money into assets.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "divestment" is that of a noun. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting the action or process of selling off assets, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "divestment" is a noun referring to the act of selling off assets, often used in contexts of ethical investing, finance, and business strategy. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. While often used interchangeably with similar terms like "divestiture", it's crucial to distinguish "divestment" from "investment". The term appears frequently in news and business contexts, reflecting its relevance in current discussions about financial ethics and corporate responsibility. Understanding the specific reasons behind a "divestment", whether driven by ethical concerns, financial restructuring, or strategic realignment, adds depth to its usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

share divestiture

Synonymous with divestment but emphasizes shares.

investment withdrawal

Directly refers to pulling out investments, highlighting the act of removing funds.

fund withdrawal

Specifically refers to pulling out investments from a fund.

asset disposal

Focuses on the action of getting rid of assets, which is broader than just investments.

capital disinvestment

Focuses on the action of reducing or eliminating capital investments.

portfolio reduction

Emphasizes decreasing the size of an investment portfolio, a common motivation behind divestment.

strategic sell-off

Highlights the intentional and planned nature of selling assets, suggesting a specific goal.

asset liquidation

Implies converting assets into cash, often as part of a broader financial strategy.

stock offloading

Specifically refers to selling shares of stock, narrowing the scope to equity investments.

capital redeployment

Suggests selling assets to reinvest capital elsewhere, emphasizing a shift in investment strategy.

FAQs

How is "divestment" used in a sentence?

"Divestment" is used to describe the act of selling off assets. For example, "The university announced its "divestment from fossil fuels"".

What's a simpler way to describe "divestment"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "asset disposal", "sell-off", or "investment withdrawal".

What is the difference between "divestment" and "divestiture"?

"Divestment" is the general process of selling assets, while "divestiture" often refers to the specific act or instance of divesting. They are often used interchangeably.

Why are companies choosing "divestment"?

Companies might pursue "strategic sell-off" due to ethical concerns, financial restructuring, or to focus on core business activities.