affluent

[af-loo-uhnt, uh-floo-]

adjective

1. having an abundance of wealth, property, or other material goods; prosperous; rich.

   an affluent person.

2. abounding in anything; abundant.

   Synonyms: teeming

3. flowing freely.

   an affluent fountain.

noun

1. a tributary stream.

2. an affluent person.

   a luxurious resort appealing to young affluents.

affluent

/ ˈæflʊənt /

adjective

1. rich; wealthy

2. abundant; copious

3. flowing freely

noun

1. archaic,  a tributary stream

Other Word Forms

• affluently adverb
• nonaffluent adjective
• subaffluent adjective
• subaffluently adverb
• superaffluent adjective
• superaffluently adverb
• unaffluent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of affluent¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin affluent- (stem of affluēns “rich”; originally present participle of affluere ), equivalent to af- af- + flu- “flow” + -ent -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of affluent¹

C15: from Latin affluent-, present participle of affluere to flow towards, from fluere to flow

Synonym Study

See rich.

Example Sentences

They represent New Jersey’s massive “commuter class,” found in affluent suburbs close to New York City.

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For some time now, officials have been warning about so-called “burglary tourism,” in which theft rings from South America have traveled to the United States to target homes in affluent neighborhoods.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ms. Orlean grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, an affluent suburb of Cleveland.

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Legal experts appear to agree on one thing: Even if Rinderknecht is convicted, he cannot possibly compensate the thousands of residents in the affluent coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades who lost loved ones and homes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

American private art schools, meanwhile—members of Talking Heads attended Harvard and the Rhode Island School of Design—coded their graduates as embarrassingly affluent.

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Related Words

• moneyed 
• prosperous 
• rich 
• upscale 
• well-off 
• well-to-do