Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a great deal of money, resources, or assets; rich: The primary meaning describes a person, group, or entity possessing substantial financial means and valuable possessions.
   • Abundant in a particular quality or resource: Used figuratively to describe a large amount or rich supply of something non-material.

Usage

• The adjective wealthy is used to describe nouns. It is more formal than "rich" and often implies a sustained, substantial level of wealth, sometimes over generations.
• It can be used in the comparative (wealthier) and superlative (wealthiest) forms.
• When used with "the" as a plural noun (the wealthy), it refers to wealthy people as a social class.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • She comes from a wealthy family that owns several companies.
  • The investment made him wealthy beyond his dreams.
  • The country is wealthy in natural resources like oil and minerals.
• Noun (plural):
  • The new tax policy affects the wealthy more than the middle class.

Advanced Usage

• "Wealthy in": Used to indicate an abundance of a non-material quality.
  • The region is wealthy in cultural heritage and history.
• Contrast with "rich": While often interchangeable, wealthy can suggest a more established, secure, and sometimes inherited fortune, whereas "rich" can be more immediate or recently acquired.

Variants and Related Words

• Wealth (n): The state of being wealthy; an abundance of valuable possessions or money.
  • His wealth was accumulated over decades.
• Wealthily (adv): In a wealthy manner.
  • They lived wealthily in a large estate.

Synonyms

• Affluent: Having a great deal of money; wealthy. (Similar in formality and tone).
• Prosperous: Successful in material terms; flourishing financially.
• Moneyed: Having much money; wealthy. (Often used before a noun, e.g., ).
• Well-off: In a good financial position.

Antonyms

• Poor: Lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in society.
• Impoverished: Reduced to poverty.
• Destitute: Extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "Wealthy beyond measure": Extremely wealthy.
  • The ancient kingdom was said to be wealthy beyond measure.
• "The wealthy elite": A small, powerful group of very rich people.
  • The decision was criticized as favoring the wealthy elite.

Adjective

1. having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
   • an affluent banker
   • a speculator flush with cash
   • not merely rich but loaded
   • moneyed aristocrats
   • wealthy corporations