Divest Meaning
/daɪˈvɛst/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo strip, deprive, or dispossess (someone) of something (such as a right, passion, privilege, or prejudice).
verbTo sell off or be rid of through sale, especially of a subsidiary.
Sentence Examples
The Board of Trustees voted to divest the organization's overseas holdings.
The company plans to divest its non-core assets.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The university decided to ____ its holdings in fossil fuel companies.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The Board of Trustees voted to ____ the organization's overseas holdings.
Word Origin & History
Alteration of devest, from Middle French devester (“strip of possessions”), from Old French desvestir, from des- (“dis-”) + vestir (“to clothe”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It is argued that from a fiscal point of view, governments should divest only if this leads to an improvement in the intertemporal budget constraint. However, it is shown that policymakers are instead inclined to divest public assets as a means of […]"
— 2011, Alfred Schipke, Why Do Governments Divest?: The Macroeconomics of Privatization, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 6:
"Building from this argument, we can now turn to arguing the moral case why individuals should divest from fossil fuels. We can flesh out what is wrong with continuing investments in the fossil fuel industry in terms of the role that an agent […]"
— 2018, Ravi Kanbur, Henry Shue, Climate Justice: Integrating Economics and Philosophy, Oxford University Press, USA, →ISBN, page 146:
"Having divested the child he kissed her gently and gave her a little pat to make her stand off."
— 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The university decided to ____ its holdings in fossil fuel companies.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The Board of Trustees voted to ____ the organization's overseas holdings.