affluence

noun

af·​flu·​ence ˈa-(ˌ)flü-ən(t)s How to pronounce affluence (audio)
also
a-ˈflü- How to pronounce affluence (audio)
 or  ə-
1
a
: abundance of property : wealth
rose from poverty to affluence
b
: an abundant flow or supply : profusion
… to attain that breadth and height, that wealth of muscle, that affluence of flesh.Charlotte Brontë
2
: a flowing to or toward a point : influx

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What is the origin of affluence?

Affluence comes from the Latin verb affluere, "to flow abundantly". Thus, someone or something blessed with affluence has received an incoming flood of riches. Since the affluent residents of suburbs often work in the central city but pay taxes back home, the wealth of some metropolitan areas tends to flow in one direction—out.

Examples of affluence in a Sentence

this affluence of new students is straining an already crowded school system
Recent Examples on the Web Wilson cited the country’s large population, increasing affluence due to strong economic growth, and a huge Indian diaspora that maintains close links with the country. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 28 Feb. 2024 The visible affluence in our community hides the fact that people are struggling and in dire need of these programs, while food banks are making tough choices every day to fill the gap. Regi Young, The Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2024 Because of the affluence of the Osage people in the early 20th century, there was an unusual amount of visual source material, including home movies. Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2023 Ives transposes the action to an America of rampant affluence and ghastly superficiality, populated by boorish Wall Street titans (Cannavale) and shady plastic surgeons (Shamos) and drug-dealing diplomats (Pasquale) and tightly wound Hollywood agents (Gray). Peter Marks, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023 The boy had seemed destined for a life of affluence and earthly pursuits. David Pierson, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2023 His dream was always of a new New Deal that would go further than the original one had, lifting all boats not by some rising tide of affluence but by giving everyone the same ship and the same sail. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023 Still, the relative affluence among these households may contribute to their children attending better-resourced schools before heading to college. Uwa Ede-Osifo, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2023 But amid this growing affluence, both were also products of downward mobility, with Joel abandoned by his corporate executive father and Springsteen’s grandfather, a lawyer, going to prison. TIME, 13 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'affluence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "abundance, profusion," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin affluentia, noun derivative of affluent-, affluens affluent entry 1 — more at -ence

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of affluence was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near affluence

Cite this Entry

“Affluence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affluence. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

affluence

noun
af·​flu·​ence ˈaf-ˌlü-ən(t)s How to pronounce affluence (audio)
also
a-ˈflü- How to pronounce affluence (audio)
ə-ˈflü-
: the state of having much wealth or property

More from Merriam-Webster on affluence

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