Wealthy Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：rich (wealthy)

wealthy 🔊

/ˈwɛlθi/

adj.

having a lot of money, property, and other valuable things.

Wealthy man in suit overlooking city skyline from luxury apartment

rich 🔊

➕

/rɪtʃ/

adj.

Having significant financial resources and material possessions.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'wealth' (Old English 'wela' for well-being) + suffix '-y'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'well-thy' — being well in terms of money and possessions.

📖 Example

At the class reunion, I was surprised to see how wealthy my old friend had become; he now drives a luxury car and vacations in exotic locations. 🔊 At the class reunion, I was surprised to see how rich my old friend had become; he now drives a luxury car and vacations in exotic locations.

🔗 Collocations

wealthy family – a family with substantial financial assets

wealthy individual – a person who possesses great wealth

wealthy nation – a country with high economic prosperity

🔄 Synonyms

rich (adj.) – having a great deal of money or assets

affluent (adj.) – having an abundance of wealth, property, or material goods

prosperous (adj.) – successful in material terms; flourishing financially

🚫 Antonyms

poor (adj.) – lacking sufficient money or material possessions

impoverished (adj.) – reduced to poverty; having very little or no wealth

destitute (adj.) – extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself

🌱 Derivatives

wealth (n.) – abundance of valuable possessions or money

wealthiness (n.) – the state of being wealthy

wealthily (adv.) – in a wealthy manner

📖 Cultural Story

Originally from Old English 'wela' (well-being). Shifted from spiritual to material prosperity. Common in financial contexts.