Every month / quarter / year you receive a return on your investment in the form of a dividend payment. (writeyourownreality.com)
Since the average stock would not actually increase in value, most of the gains made by investors from stocks would be in the form of dividend payments. (mises.org)
In a Participating Whole Life Insurance, the insurance will share excess profits with the policyholder in the form of dividend payments. (lifeinsurance.org)