richer; richest
1
: having a lot of money and possessions : wealthy
a rich person
Her investments have made her rich.
a rich country/area/neighborhood
She is very rich.
(informal + often disapproving) She is filthy rich. = She is stinking rich. [=she is extremely rich; she has so much money that her wealth is disgusting or offensive]
He wrote a book on how to get rich quick. [=how to make a large amount of money quickly]
2
: very expensive and beautiful, impressive, etc.
rich [=luxurious] robes
rich decorations
3
a
: having or supplying a large amount of something that is wanted or needed
The dictionary is a rich source of information.
a rich gold mine
rich [=fertile] soils
protein-rich foods [=foods that contain a lot of protein]
—often + in or witha land rich in resources
foods that are rich in protein
He had a life rich with blessings.
b
: containing a large amount of fat, oil, etc. : having a lot of flavor and making your stomach feel full
rich [=heavy] foods
a rich and spicy soup
The food was a little too rich for me.
c
: very interesting and full of many different things
Their country has a rich cultural heritage.
This area has a rich history.
She has a rich vocabulary.
4
: having a pleasingly strong quality
a rich [=dark and vivid] red
a singer with a full, rich voice
rich perfumes
5
informal
—used to say that a person's comment or criticism is surprising or amusing because the same comment or criticism could be made about that person
His remarks about the importance of saving money are pretty rich coming from a man who just bought another new car.
"She says we're working too slowly." "Oh, that's rich. She's the one who keeps delaying things with all her meetings."
Cite this Entry
“Rich.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/rich. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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