What does wealthy mean?
Wealthy is an adjective meaning that someone or something has abundant financial resources, possessions, or another valuable quality. Its everyday use most often describes a person, family, business, or community with considerable money or property. The word can also be used figuratively, as when a region is described as wealthy in history or natural beauty. Wealthy is broadly similar to rich, affluent, and prosperous, although its connotations depend on context: it may sound neutral in a factual report but envious or critical when used of conspicuous affluence. The related collective phrase “the wealthy” refers to wealthy people as a group. Although wealthy plainly concerns material resources, it is worth remembering that the word is related to older expressions of well-being and prosperity, giving it a broader historical connection to human flourishing.
adjectiveHaving a great amount of money, property, or other material resources. It can also mean abundantly supplied with something valuable.
- Having abundant money, property, or material resources.
- Rich in something valuable or abundant in a quality, as in “a landscape wealthy in wildlife.”
"The wealthy philanthropist funded a new library for the town."
"Several wealthy families contributed to the restoration."
"The region is wealthy in natural beauty and traditional architecture."
The “th” in wealthy preserves the spelling of the older form welthe—a tiny historical fossil of the idea of prosperity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does wealthy come from?
The adjective wealthy was formed in the early 16th century from wealth and the suffix -y. Wealth was made in late Old English from well, originally in the sense of well-being or prosperity, with -th forming a noun; the th in both wealth and wealthy reflects that older development. Related forms include well, weal, and welfare, all reflecting the same Germanic ancestry, although their modern meanings and uses have diverged.
Related word forms
How wealthy is actually used
The word is generally neutral and can be used in formal or informal contexts, although it may sound envious or negatively judgmental when applied to powerful people. The expression “the wealthy” means wealthy people collectively.
Easily confused with wealthy
Healthy describes physical or mental well-being, whereas wealthy describes financial resources; the two words have similar spellings and rhyme.