riches
Americanplural noun
plural noun
Etymology
Origin of riches
1175–1225; Middle English, plural of Middle English riche wealth, power ( Old English rīce power, rule; cognate with German Reich realm); confused with Middle English richesse wealth < Old French, equivalent to riche wealthy (< Germanic; see rich) + -esse -ess
Explanation
Use the word riches when you're talking about wealth, including money, treasures, and expensive belongings. Most people who buy lottery tickets dream of winning riches. Occasionally, someone who's born into poverty will grow up to earn riches through hard work and a lot of luck — but more often, people inherit their riches from wealthy relatives. You can also use riches in a figurative way, for something bountiful or profuse: "Let's go to the farmers market and see what riches are available!" Riches was originally richesse, a singular word that was misinterpreted as being plural.
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.
These early plutocrats made their fortunes on immovable assets — gold, land, oil, the natural riches of California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
Now at 69, his riches outstrip everyone on the continent, with a worth of $35.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg billionaires index, while Forbes estimates his fortune at $51.3 billion.
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
For McVay, it was an embarrassment of riches.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
Finally, your financial adviser came to you holding a “golden” prospectus, allegedly promising you riches, I’m guessing, in a decade or less.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026
This was why he also said nothing when she took the paintings from the walls and the antique carpets to sell them to the nouveaux riches.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
