affluence

noun

af·​flu·​ence ˈa-(ˌ)flü-ən(t)s 

also

a-ˈflü- 

 or  ə-

1

a

: abundance of property : wealth

rose from poverty to affluence

b

: an abundant flow or supply : profusion

… to attain that breadth and height, that wealth of muscle, that affluence of flesh.

—Charlotte Brontë

2

: a flowing to or toward a point : influx

Did you know?

What is the origin of affluence?

Affluence comes from the Latin verb affluere, "to flow abundantly". Thus, someone or something blessed with affluence has received an incoming flood of riches. Since the affluent residents of suburbs often work in the central city but pay taxes back home, the wealth of some metropolitan areas tends to flow in one direction—out.

Synonyms

• flux
• income
• inflow
• influx
• inpouring
• inrush

Examples of affluence in a Sentence

this affluence of new students is straining an already crowded school system

Recent Examples on the Web

Public education funding across the U.S. is a patchwork—deeply uneven, stitched together by local property taxes that tether a child’s academic opportunity to the affluence of their ZIP code. —Michelle Mbekeani, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Because affluence and race are, unfortunately, still tethered, yoga studios and practitioners of color are driven apart. —Tamika Caston-Miller, Outside Online, 26 Feb. 2025

That means even a $150,000 salary — once a clear marker of affluence — still lands within the middle-class range in nearly half the country. —Mike Winters, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025

Hilton Head’s affluence might also be drawing scammers. —Bracey Harris, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "abundance, profusion," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin affluentia, noun derivative of affluent-, affluens affluent entry 1 — more at -ence

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

affluence

noun

af·​flu·​ence ˈaf-ˌlü-ən(t)s 

also

a-ˈflü- 

ə-ˈflü-

: the state of having much wealth or property