wealthy
1 Americanadjective
-
having great wealth; rich; affluent.
a wealthy person; a wealthy nation.
- Synonyms:
- moneyed, well-to-do, prosperous
- Antonyms:
- poor
-
characterized by, pertaining to, or suggestive of wealth.
a wealthy appearance.
-
rich in character, quality, or amount; abundant or ample.
a novel that is wealthy in its psychological insights.
- Synonyms:
- copious
- Antonyms:
- scanty
noun
adjective
-
possessing wealth; affluent; rich
-
of, characterized by, or relating to wealth
-
abounding
wealthy in friends
Related Words
See rich.
Other Word Forms
- overwealthy adjective
- quasi-wealthy adjective
- subwealthy adjective
- superwealthy adjective
- unwealthy adjective
- wealthily adverb
- wealthiness noun
Etymology
Origin of wealthy1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; wealth + -y 1
Origin of Wealthy2
Origin uncertain
Explanation
If you have riches you are wealthy. Don't be misled into thinking "riches" means only money — to many people, to have a healthy family and to be surrounded by love is to be abundantly wealthy. The Old English word wela, via the Middle English welth, meaning "happiness and prosperity in abundance," is the source of our noun wealth. Although the Middle English wele meant "well-being," the word referred primarily to money and possessions. Many people still feel that way, but Henry David Thoreau offered a different view: "Wealth is the ability to fully experience life." That is, true wealth is having whatever means the most to you.
Vocabulary lists containing wealthy
Beowulf vocabulary
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A Wealth Of Words: Synonyms for "Rich"
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"Culture Clash"
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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.
His arrival coincided with an influx of wealthy newcomers who have fueled spending.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
The wealthy Arab monarchies of the Gulf have spent years and billions on turning themselves into global hubs for business, tourism and air travel.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
There was the time, for example, when Hannah asked her incredibly wealthy husband for a Greek vacation for her birthday.
From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026
Those costs weigh on high-earning families too, and for many are the reason they don’t feel wealthy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
Without state sponsorship, aviation is available only to the wealthy.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
