wealthy

¹ American  

[wel-thee] / ˈwɛl θi /

adjective

wealthier, wealthiest

1. having great wealth; rich; affluent.

   a wealthy person; a wealthy nation.

   Synonyms:

   moneyed, well-to-do, prosperous

   Antonyms:

   poor

2. characterized by, pertaining to, or suggestive of wealth.

   a wealthy appearance.

3. rich in character, quality, or amount; abundant or ample.

   a novel that is wealthy in its psychological insights.

   Synonyms:

   copious

   Antonyms:

   scanty

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Wealthy ² American  

[wel-thee] / ˈwɛl θi /

noun

1. a variety of red apple, grown in the U.S., ripening in early autumn.

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wealthy British  

/ ˈwɛlθɪ /

adjective

1. possessing wealth; affluent; rich

2. of, characterized by, or relating to wealth

3. abounding

   wealthy in friends

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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

Example Sentences

The pattern is similar to giving by wealthy households.

From Barron's

His parents worked for a wealthy family, his mother as a cook and his father as a chauffeur.

From BBC

And while some wealthy residents have been able to leave the Gulf, migrant workers remain among the most vulnerable during the conflict.

From Barron's

I’d gleaned that Ma had been born in China and had been sold as a child to work as a servant to a wealthy Chinese family.

From Literature

The wealthier people are the more likely they are to use private healthcare, the poll suggested.

From BBC

Related Words

• affluent
• independent
• moneyed
• prosperous
• upscale
• well-heeled
• well-off
• well-to-do