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affluent

/ˈæfluɪnt/
/ˈæfluənt/
IPA guide

Other forms: affluents; affluently

You know you're driving through an affluent neighborhood when you see large houses, perfect landscaping, and expensive cars. Use affluent to describe wealthy people or areas.

In Middle English, affluent meant "abundant, flowing," from Old French, from Latin affluēns, from affluere "to abound in," from the prefix ad- "to, at" plus fluere "to flow." The meaning of "abundant, flowing" is still seen in phrases such as "affluent prose." But mostly, when you use the word affluent, the thing understood to be flowing is cash.

Definitions of affluent
  1. adjective
    having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
    “an affluent banker”
    synonyms: flush, loaded, moneyed, wealthy
    rich
    possessing material wealth
  2. noun
    an affluent person; a person who is financially well off
    “the so-called emerging affluents
    see moresee less
    type of:
    have, rich person, wealthy person
    a person who possesses great material wealth
  3. noun
    a branch that flows into the main stream
    synonyms: confluent, feeder, tributary
    see moresee less
    type of:
    branch
    a stream or river connected to a larger one
Pronunciation
US
/ˈæfluɪnt/
UK
/ˈæfluənt/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘affluent'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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