well-off

[wel-awf, -of]

See more synonyms for well-off on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having sufficient money for comfortable living; well-to-do.
in a satisfactory, favorable, or good position or condition: If you have your health, you are well-off.

Origin of well-off

First recorded in 1725–35

Synonyms

See more synonyms for well-off on Thesaurus.com

1. prosperous, wealthy, affluent, comfortable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for well-off

Contemporary Examples

He was a disgruntled, well-off white boy—so he fuels our arguments about privilege.
Alleged Santa Barbara Killer Elliot Rodger and the Twisted Cult of Modern Masculinity
James Poulos
May 26, 2014
The victims, in both cases, were neither white nor well-off financially.
Blacking Out the Oscar Pistorius Media Circus
Kelly Berold
March 11, 2014
D.H. Lawrence wrestled with the discontent of well-off people in his dark fable, “The Rocking-Horse Winner.”
What Tolstoy Teaches Us About Insider Trading
Liesl Schillinger
June 2, 2013
The shortages affect both the poor and the well-off, in surprising ways.
Why Hugo Chavez Was Bad for Venezuela
Megan McArdle
March 7, 2013
And if the deal paves the way for tax reform, the well-off could likely see some cherished deductions eliminated or capped.
Rich Make Out Like Bandits in Fiscal-Cliff Negotiations
Daniel Gross
December 19, 2012

Historical Examples

I suppose poor relations are boring if you're well-off yourself.
Jan and Her Job
L. Allen Harker
Her folks was well-off and she was brought up in cotton wool, as you might say.
Fair Harbor
Joseph Crosby Lincoln
It is just as applicable, I believe, to the educated and the well-off.
Social Rights and Duties, Volume I (of 2)
Sir Leslie Stephen
They will have a young, well-off man instead of an old, poor man.
The Curate in Charge
Margaret Oliphant
Being the only well-off member of her family, she was expected to do this sort of thing.
A Likely Story
William De Morgan

British Dictionary definitions for well-off

well-off

adjective (well off when postpositive)

in a comfortable or favourable position or state
financially well provided for; moderately rich

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for well-off

adj.

1733, "comfortable," from well (adv.) + off. Meaning "prosperous, not poor" is recorded from 1849.

well-off

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}well-off

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for well-off

Contemporary Examples

He was a disgruntled, well-off white boy—so he fuels our arguments about privilege.

The victims, in both cases, were neither white nor well-off financially.

D.H. Lawrence wrestled with the discontent of well-off people in his dark fable, “The Rocking-Horse Winner.”

The shortages affect both the poor and the well-off, in surprising ways.

And if the deal paves the way for tax reform, the well-off could likely see some cherished deductions eliminated or capped.

Historical Examples

I suppose poor relations are boring if you're well-off yourself.

Her folks was well-off and she was brought up in cotton wool, as you might say.

It is just as applicable, I believe, to the educated and the well-off.

They will have a young, well-off man instead of an old, poor man.

Being the only well-off member of her family, she was expected to do this sort of thing.

well-off

Word Origin and History for well-off

adj.

Origin of well-off