wealthy

¹

[wel-thee]

adjective

wealthier, wealthiest 

1. having great wealth; rich; affluent.

   a wealthy person; a wealthy nation.

   Synonyms: moneyed, well-to-do, prosperous
   Antonyms: poor

2. characterized by, pertaining to, or suggestive of wealth.

   a wealthy appearance.

3. rich in character, quality, or amount; abundant or ample.

   a novel that is wealthy in its psychological insights.

   Synonyms: copious
   Antonyms: scanty

Wealthy

²

[wel-thee]

noun

1. a variety of red apple, grown in the U.S., ripening in early autumn.

wealthy

/ ˈwɛlθɪ /

adjective

1. possessing wealth; affluent; rich

2. of, characterized by, or relating to wealth

3. abounding

   wealthy in friends

Other Word Forms

• wealthily adverb
• wealthiness noun
• overwealthy adjective
• quasi-wealthy adjective
• subwealthy adjective
• superwealthy adjective
• unwealthy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wealthy¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; wealth + -y ¹

Origin of wealthy²

Origin uncertain

Synonym Study

See rich.

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, the area’s wealthy power brokers are also moving to silence the Tulsa press in whatever way they can, whether via lawsuits or physical intimidation.

Read more on Salon

The fire was sparked on 7 January near a popular hiking trail overlooking the wealthy coastal neighbourhood.

Read more on BBC

Asia has emerged as a major hub for medical tourism, with wealthy patients heading to South Korea for cosmetic surgeries and to Singapore's private hospitals for advanced medical treatments.

Read more on BBC

Retail investors, banks and wealthy families have increasingly turned to gold, viewing it as a safeguard against global economic uncertainty, he said.

Read more on BBC

"Should we be bailing out those who voted for this, especially if they're already better off than the average American, and if the bailout funds will be concentrated among the wealthiest of this group?"

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• affluent 
• independent 
• moneyed 
• prosperous 
• upscale 
• well-heeled 
• well-off 
• well-to-do