affluent

[ af-loo-uhntor, often, uh-floo- ]

adjective

1. having an abundance of wealth, property, or other material goods; prosperous; rich:

   an affluent person.

2. abounding in anything; abundant.

   Synonyms: teeming

3. flowing freely:

   an affluent fountain.

noun

1. a tributary stream.
2. an affluent person:

   a luxurious resort appealing to young affluents.

affluent

/ ˈæflʊənt /

adjective

1. rich; wealthy
2. abundant; copious
3. flowing freely

noun

1. archaic.
   a tributary stream

Other Words From

• afflu·ent·ly adverb
• non·afflu·ent adjective
• sub·afflu·ent adjective
• sub·afflu·ent·ly adverb
• super·afflu·ent adjective
• super·afflu·ent·ly adverb
• un·afflu·ent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of affluent¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin affluent- (stem of affluēns “rich”; originally present participle of affluere ), equivalent to af- af- + flu- “flow” + -ent -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of affluent¹

C15: from Latin affluent-, present participle of affluere to flow towards, from fluere to flow

Synonym Study

See rich.

Example Sentences

In January, I drove through an affluent community of country roads, hobby farms and sprawling hilly yards outside of Fairfax, Virginia, to the home of Jared Taylor.

From Salon

Democrats for years had a slight voter registration advantage over Republicans in this affluent coastal district, which includes Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach and Seal Beach.

From Los Angeles Times

The residents of Piltover enjoy the privileges of life in an affluent and powerful society, one that casually oppresses the impoverished inhabitants of Zaun.

From Salon

Kim’s late husband had been a high-ranking government official, and they lived an affluent existence in Gangnam, a wealthy district in Seoul.

From Los Angeles Times

As Matthew Yglesias wrote for the NYT, “everywhere you look in the world of affluent democracies, the exact same thing is happening: The incumbent party is losing and often losing quite badly.”

From Salon

Related Words

• moneyed
• prosperous
• rich
• upscale
• well-off
• well-to-do