wealthy
WEHL-thee
Wealthy (adj) means having a great deal of money or property; rich. Example: “Their wealthy neighbours own three houses and a small private cinema.”
adj
1
Having a great deal of money or property; rich.
"Their wealthy neighbours own three houses and a small private cinema."
"Growing up in a wealthy family meant she never worried about school fees."
"A wealthy investor bought the old mansion and restored it."
noun
1
Rich people collectively, used with "the."
"The wealthy pay most of the taxes but the uberwealthy hardly pay any at all: they hold stock and property and live off debt borrowed against that collateral."
"F. Scott Fitzgerald never got over Ginevra King's dad reminding him he wasn't a wealthy and needed to aim lower."
"The charity dinner was attended mostly by the wealthy of the region."
"Some say the wealthy should pay a bigger share towards public services."
"A tax break aimed mainly at the wealthy."
How to use wealthy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving a lot of money or valuable possessions.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- wealthies
- Comparative
- wealthier, more wealthy
- Superlative
- wealthiest, most wealthy
Fill the gap
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Their _____ neighbours own three houses and a small private cinema.
Etymology
Comes from Middle English welthy, welþi, made up of wealth + -y. It is cognate with Middle Dutch weldech, weeldech ("magnificent, luscious, lavish").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for wealthy
See all rhymes for wealthy →Frequently asked questions
What does “wealthy” mean?
The word “wealthy” means having a great deal of money or property; rich. In plain terms, having a lot of money or valuable possessions.
How do you pronounce “wealthy”?
“Wealthy” is pronounced WEHL-thee (/ˈwɛl.θi/ in IPA).
How do you use “wealthy” in a sentence?
Here is “wealthy” used in a sentence: “A wealthy investor bought the old mansion and restored it.”
What is another word for “wealthy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “wealthy” include bow-legged wi' brass, comfortably off, filthy rich, loaded, minted and moneyed.
What is the opposite of “wealthy”?
The opposite of “wealthy” — its antonyms — are poor and impoverished.
What part of speech is “wealthy”?
Depending on how it is used, “wealthy” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “wealthy” a common word?
“Wealthy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “wealthy” have?
“Wealthy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a great deal of money or property; rich.
What is the difference between wealthy and rich?
Both mean having a great deal of money or property, and they are often interchangeable. Wealthy tends to sound slightly more formal and can suggest lasting, substantial assets, while rich is the plainer, more everyday word. In practice the two are very close synonyms.
What is the difference between wealthy and affluent?
Wealthy means having a great deal of money or property. Affluent describes a comfortable, prosperous standard of living and is often applied to areas or groups, as in "an affluent neighbourhood." Someone very wealthy has large assets, while affluent stresses visible, comfortable prosperity.
Is wealthy a formal word?
Wealthy is a neutral to slightly formal adjective suitable for most writing and speech. More casual alternatives include loaded and well-off, while very formal or literary contexts might use moneyed or of means.
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