SKIP TO CONTENT

riches

/rɪtʃɪz/
/ˈrɪtʃɪz/
IPA guide

Use the word riches when you're talking about wealth, including money, treasures, and expensive belongings. Most people who buy lottery tickets dream of winning riches.

Occasionally, someone who's born into poverty will grow up to earn riches through hard work and a lot of luck — but more often, people inherit their riches from wealthy relatives. You can also use riches in a figurative way, for something bountiful or profuse: "Let's go to the farmers market and see what riches are available!" Riches was originally richesse, a singular word that was misinterpreted as being plural.

Definitions of riches
  1. noun
    an abundance of material possessions and resources
    synonyms: wealth
    see moresee less
    types:
    gold
    great wealth
    hoarded wealth, treasure
    accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
    fortune
    a large amount of wealth or prosperity
    valuable
    something of value
    king's ransom
    a very large treasure
    treasure trove, trove
    treasure of unknown ownership found hidden (usually in the earth)
    type of:
    material resource
    assets in the form of material possessions
Pronunciation
US
/rɪtʃɪz/
UK
/ˈrɪtʃɪz/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘riches'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family