affluent
Americanadjective
-
having an abundance of wealth, property, or other material goods; prosperous; rich.
an affluent person.
-
abounding in anything; abundant.
- Synonyms:
- teeming
-
flowing freely.
an affluent fountain.
noun
-
a tributary stream.
-
an affluent person.
a luxurious resort appealing to young affluents.
adjective
-
rich; wealthy
-
abundant; copious
-
flowing freely
noun
Related Words
See rich.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of affluent
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
Explanation
You know you're driving through an affluent neighborhood when you see large houses, perfect landscaping, and expensive cars. Use affluent to describe wealthy people or areas. In Middle English, affluent meant "abundant, flowing," from Old French, from Latin affluēns, from affluere "to abound in," from the prefix ad- "to, at" plus fluere "to flow." The meaning of "abundant, flowing" is still seen in phrases such as "affluent prose." But mostly, when you use the word affluent, the thing understood to be flowing is cash.
Vocabulary lists containing affluent
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"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pratt was raised in affluent Pacific Palisades, attending Crossroads School, a pricey private academy in Santa Monica teeming with children of entertainment industry figures.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
In another case, if the company knows how much a customer makes per year or whether they live in a more affluent neighborhood, they could charge more.
From Salon • May 18, 2026
Still, the sector is landing younger, affluent travelers, solo travelers, professionals in their 40s and 50s, and multigenerational families, Marozaite said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026
Children who live in relatively disadvantaged areas are also more likely to be autistic than those who live in more affluent areas, according to the department.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
Glancing around, I was aware of the disconnect between Farmer’s world and the world of gift shops with luxury goods, affluent passengers, and the freedom for some to move about the world without restriction.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
