wealth
Americannoun
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a great quantity or store of money, valuable possessions, property, or other riches.
the wealth of a city.
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an abundance or profusion of anything; plentiful amount.
a wealth of imagery.
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Economics.
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all things that have a monetary or exchange value.
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anything that has utility and is capable of being appropriated or exchanged.
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rich or valuable contents or produce.
the wealth of the soil.
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the state of being rich; prosperity; affluence.
persons of wealth and standing.
- Antonyms:
- poverty
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Obsolete. happiness.
noun
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a large amount of money and valuable material possessions
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the state of being rich
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a great profusion
a wealth of gifts
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economics all goods and services with monetary, exchangeable, or productive value
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of wealth
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English welth; equivalent to well 1 + -th 1; modeled on health
Explanation
The word wealth has many shades of meaning, but most involve having a lot of something — often money or something else that's valuable. You might have a wealth of experience, or you might have great personal wealth. First used in the mid-13th century, the noun wealth can mean having a lot of material goods or money. A person with this kind of wealth may have a chateau in Italy with a vineyard and a personal yacht. Wealth can also mean a big supply of something. The birth of a newborn baby will surely bring a wealth of happiness and joy to a family.
Vocabulary lists containing wealth
Tax Day Words
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"A Suitcase of Seaweed" and "Immigrants Today"
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"The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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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.
This leads to Elon Musk becoming the world’s first trillionaire, with a lot of his unimaginable wealth based on speculative AI technologies.
From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026
Black homeownership trails overall homeownership, which is the way most Americans build generational wealth.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026
She will provide stiff competition for current number one Elene Lete, as well as bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge of the league.
From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026
He cited China and Vietnam as possible models for opening Cuba's economy to the world in order to "create economic wealth and distribute it equally."
From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026
But even after she had given away 55 percent of her wealth, Grace was still the richest twelve-year-old in the world.
From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
