nouveau riche

noun

nou·​veau riche ˌnü-ˌvō-ˈrēsh How to pronounce nouveau riche (audio)
plural nouveaux riches ˌnü-ˌvō-ˈrēsh How to pronounce nouveau riche (audio)
: a person newly rich : parvenu

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rule dates back to the 19th century and was founded by old-money circles in the Northeast to differentiate themselves from the nouveau riche trying to infiltrate the social elite. Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025 But Ahlers’ Jack is not content to become a nouveau riche nightmare, having spent the bulk of recent episodes dragging his feet about leaving the home and his employers, Agnes and Ada (Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon), whom he’s known for so long. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025 In season three, with the support of Harry Richardson’s nouveau riche scion Larry Russell, Jack sells his invention for $600,000, or somewhere near $9.5 million in today’s dollars. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025 Arguably the series’ silent star, the jewelry reflects the intense competition among New York’s nouveau riche to outshine one another. Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nouveau riche

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, literally, "newly rich"

First Known Use

circa 1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nouveau riche was circa 1796

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Cite this Entry

“Nouveau riche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nouveau%20riche. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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