wealthy
adjective
having great wealth; rich; affluent.
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wealthy
1 American
[wel-thee]
/ ˈwɛl θi /
adjective
wealthier,
wealthiest
-
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
Wealthy
2
American
[wel-thee]
/ ˈwɛl θi /
noun
wealthy
British
/ ˈwɛlθɪ /
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.
"Maybe people think we're driving a Porsche in the Hamptons on the weekends with our $40 chicken, but we're like everyone here," Hivernat added, referring to a wealthy beach resort in the New York area.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
In the current K-shaped economy, the wealthy keep spending, while most everyone else feels strapped.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026
The wealthy might simply be putting their cash into other assets because paintings turned out to be a disappointing investment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026
Private credit faced a near bank run last month as wealthy investors exited, raising concerns about loan quality and profitability.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
Lady Jane Franklin, Franklin’s wealthy and determined wife, instigated and even financed several of the searches.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
