What does affluence mean?
Affluence is the condition of having abundant wealth or a plentiful supply of material goods. The word most commonly describes the prosperity of individuals, households, communities, or entire societies — as when economists speak of postwar affluence or journalists describe an affluent suburb. Its connotations are generally positive but neutral in register: it suggests comfort, security, and plenty rather than flamboyant luxury, for which words like opulence are better suited. Beyond money, affluence retains an older, broader sense of any abundant flow or supply, reflecting its Latin roots. Derived forms include the adjective affluent, used both for wealthy people and — in geography — for streams flowing into a larger river. Because it names a central concept in discussions of economics, class, and consumption, affluence is a valuable word for anyone writing about wealth and society with precision and nuance.
The state of having a great deal of wealth; abundant material prosperity.
"Their affluence allowed them to travel freely and support several charities."
Often used in sociological and economic contexts, e.g. 'consumer affluence' or 'the affluent society'.
An abundant flow or supply of something; a plentiful influx.
"The valley's affluence of fresh water made it fertile farmland."
This older, broader sense is now comparatively rare.
Rarely pluralized; affluence is almost always treated as an uncountable mass noun describing a general state.
"The book compares the affluences of different postwar economies."
Affluence literally means 'flowing toward' — the Romans pictured wealth as a river pouring into your life, which is why we still say money 'flows'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of affluence
Affluence comes from the Latin verb affluere, meaning 'to flow toward' or 'to flow in', formed from ad- ('toward') plus fluere ('to flow'). In Middle French as affluence, it originally described an abundant flowing or influx, and English adopted it in the late medieval/early modern period before the sense narrowed toward material abundance. It shares this root with fluent, influence, superfluous, and confluence, all descendants of fluere.
Related word forms
How affluence is actually used
Affluence is a formal-to-neutral word, common in economics, sociology, and journalism. It carries connotations of comfortable material prosperity rather than extravagant riches; for ostentatious display, 'opulence' is often preferred. In academic writing about consumer societies, 'affluence' frequently appears in phrases such as 'the affluent society'.
Easily confused with affluence
Effluence means something flowing out (such as sewage or waste discharge), whereas affluence means wealth or abundance.
Influence is the power to affect people or events, while affluence refers to material wealth or abundance.