nouveau riche

noun

nou·​veau riche ˌnü-ˌvō-ˈrēsh 

plural nouveaux riches ˌnü-ˌvō-ˈrēsh 

: a person newly rich : parvenu

Synonyms

• arriviste
• parvenu
• upstart

Examples of nouveau riche in a Sentence

a nouveau riche who is reportedly using his money to buy his way into Palm Beach society

Recent Examples on the Web

With more romance, shifting power dynamics between the old guard and the nouveau riche and plenty of dramatic twists, there’s a lot to look forward to on Sunday nights this summer. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

On the other side of 61st Street, the nouveau riche Russell family becomes a case study in that classic Whartonian theme: the complicated web of love, money and status. —Alison Herman, Variety, 20 June 2025

The prince’s daughter Concetta is initially enamored of Tancredi, but his eye is caught by the beautiful Angelica, daughter of vulgar nouveau riche neighbor Don Calogero. —Anthony Paletta, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025

In Rivals, Dyer plays a complex, nouveau riche tech entrepreneur who strikes up an unlikely romance with local author Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson). —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, literally, "newly rich"

First Known Use

circa 1796, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nouveau riche

• bewitch
• distich
• enrich
• bitch
• ditch
• fiche
• glitch
• hitch
• ich
• itch
• kitsch
• lich