rich, wealthy, affluent, opulent mean having goods, property, and money in abundance. rich implies having more than enough to gratify normal needs or desires.
The adjective rich forms two separate plural nouns: the rich are the people characterized by being rich, while riches are the things that make or might make someone rich.
These adjectives mean having an abundant supply of money, property, or possessions of value: a rich executive; an affluent banker; moneyed heirs; wealthy corporations.
Rich, wealthy, affluent all indicate abundance of possessions. Rich is the general word; it may imply that possessions are newly acquired: an oilman who became rich overnight.
RICH definition: having wealth or great possessions; abundantly supplied with resources, means, or funds; wealthy. See examples of rich used in a sentence.
Members of Pennsylvania's billionaire class, circa 2025. From L-R: Arthur Dantchik, Maggie Hardy, Michael Rubin, Thomas Tull, Victoria Mars, John Middleton, and Jeffrey Lurie. (AP/Getty)
