riches
Americanplural noun
plural noun
Etymology
Origin of riches
1175–1225; Middle English, plural of Middle English riche wealth, power ( Old English rīce power, rule; cognate with German Reich realm); confused with Middle English richesse wealth < Old French, equivalent to riche wealthy (< Germanic; see rich) + -esse -ess
Explanation
Use the word riches when you're talking about wealth, including money, treasures, and expensive belongings. Most people who buy lottery tickets dream of winning riches. Occasionally, someone who's born into poverty will grow up to earn riches through hard work and a lot of luck — but more often, people inherit their riches from wealthy relatives. You can also use riches in a figurative way, for something bountiful or profuse: "Let's go to the farmers market and see what riches are available!" Riches was originally richesse, a singular word that was misinterpreted as being plural.
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.
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From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
City have won back-to-back games at the start of the Premier League season and Maresca will now have a selection dilemma each game as he possesses an embarrassment of riches to choose from.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
NEWARK, N.J.—Hedge-fund billionaire John Overdeck took to the witness stand last week to explain that he had always shared his riches with his wife, Laura Overdeck.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
For years, she read tarot cards for tourists who poured out of cruise ships eager to learn of new loves or fabulous riches.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
From this embarrassment of riches, Francesco manages to pick a painter who’s sick of painting.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
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.
