wealthy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈwel-thē 

also ˈwelt-thē

wealthier; wealthiest

1

: having wealth : very affluent

2

: characterized by abundance : ample

wealthily

ˈwel-thə-lē 

adverb

wealthiness

ˈwel-thē-nəs 

noun

wealthiness

2 of 2

noun

wealth·​i·​ness -thēnə̇s 

-thin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being wealthy : richness, opulence

Synonyms of wealthy

Adjective

• affluent
• rich

Choose the Right Synonym for wealthy

rich, wealthy, affluent, opulent mean having goods, property, and money in abundance.

rich implies having more than enough to gratify normal needs or desires.

became rich through shrewd investing

wealthy stresses the possession of property and intrinsically valuable things.

wealthy landowners

affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth.

an affluent society

opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people.

an opulent mansion

Examples of wealthy in a Sentence

Adjective

He is a wealthy entrepreneur.

the wealthiest nations in the world

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Less wealthy associations within and outside the confederation have relied heavily on FIFA funds via Infantino’s FIFA Forward program, the precursor to FFE, which was introduced by him in 2016. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

There is also the matter of the career that made Savannah wealthy. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026

Today, in many of the world’s wealthiest enclaves, transactions of that magnitude are simply the starting point. — Mark David, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2026

The hypothesis was that one of the men — linked to organized crime groups that robbed wealthy homes — attempted to rob the Percy home and Valerie had woken up. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wealthy

• the wealthy

Rhymes for wealthy

• healthy
• stealthy
• unhealthy

Kids Definition

wealthy

adjective

ˈwel-thē 

wealthier; wealthiest

1

: having wealth : rich

2

: marked by plenty : abundant

wealthiness

-thē-nəs 

noun