First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1affluent
adjective af·flu·ent \ˈa-(ˌ)flü-ənt also a-ˈflü- or ə-\
: having a large amount of money and owning many expensive things
Full Definition of AFFLUENT
1
: flowing in abundance <affluent streams> <affluent creativity>
2
: having a generously sufficient and typically increasing supply of material possessions <our affluent society>
— af·flu·ent·ly adverb
See affluent defined for English-language learners
See affluent defined for kids
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Examples of AFFLUENT
- The store catered to a mostly affluent clientele that was relatively price insensitive, so we could afford to pay our suppliers a premium for the very best fish. The shop also developed a significant wholesale business, and soon the great and the good of London gastronomy were flocking to our door. —Frances Percival, Saveur, March 2008
- A recent crop of books and articles give voice to this complaint. They happen to be written by journalists who are also well-educated and affluent mothers, but when it comes to parental discontent they are not alone. —Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, Commonweal, 16 June 2006
- The Bay Area, which encompasses the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, as well as surrounding areas, is one of the nation's most affluent regions: More than 40% of the area's residents have annual household income of at least $75,000, versus only 25% in the country's other top 50 markets, according to Scarborough Research. —Eileen Davis Hudson et al., Editor & Publisher, 1 Oct. 2001
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Origin of AFFLUENT
Middle English, from Latin affluent-, affluens, present participle of affluere to flow to, flow abundantly, from ad- + fluere to flow — more at fluid
Related to AFFLUENT
- Synonyms
- rich, deep-pocketed, fat, fat-cat, flush, loaded, moneyed (also monied), opulent, silk-stocking, wealthy, well-endowed, well-fixed, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do
- Antonyms
- destitute, impecunious, impoverished, indigent, needy, penniless, penurious, poor, poverty-stricken
Synonym Discussion of AFFLUENT
rich, wealthy, affluent, opulent mean having goods, property, and money in abundance. rich implies having more than enough to gratify normal needs or desires <became rich through shrewd investing>. wealthy stresses the possession of property and intrinsically valuable things <wealthy landowners>. affluent suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth <an affluent society>. opulent suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth, more often applying to things than people <an opulent mansion>.
2affluent
noun af·flu·ent \ˈa-(ˌ)flü-ənt also a-ˈflü- or ə-\
Definition of AFFLUENT
1
: a tributary stream
2
: a wealthy or affluent person
Origin of AFFLUENT
(see 1affluent)
First Known Use: 1818
Related to AFFLUENT
Other Geology Terms
AFFLUENT Defined for Kids
affluent
adjective af·flu·ent \ˈa-ˌflü-ənt\
Definition of AFFLUENT for Kids
: having plenty of money and expensive things : wealthy <an affluent family>
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