What does wealth mean?
Wealth usually means money, property, and other material possessions held by a person, family, business, or community. It can describe both the resources themselves and the prosperity they create, as in 'the wealth of a nation' or 'a family of great wealth.' The word is also used figuratively for valuable qualities and resources that cannot be counted in money, including cultural heritage, knowledge, creativity, and social connection. Wealth often carries connotations of stability, opportunity, and privilege, while discussions of its distribution may also raise questions about inequality and fairness. Because it began as a broad word for wellbeing and flourishing, its meaning has never been limited solely to cash. In modern usage, it is usually an uncountable noun, but the plural 'wealths' exists in occasional specialized contexts. Wealth is a useful word because it captures both economic abundance and the broader idea of what makes life prosperous.
nounWealth is a large amount of money, property, and other valuable possessions, or the state of being financially prosperous. It can also refer more broadly to an abundance of valuable qualities, resources, or opportunities.
- A large amount of money, property, and other assets; material prosperity.
- An abundance of valuable qualities, resources, or opportunities, such as cultural, intellectual, or social wealth.
"The family used its wealth to support education and charitable causes."
"Education can be a pathway to greater wealth and opportunity."
"The region is known for the wealth of its cultural traditions."
Rare; wealth is normally used as an uncountable noun. The plural may distinguish separate bodies of wealth or refer to distinct wealths in specialized contexts.
"The report compares the wealths of several historic families."
Wealth began as a word for human flourishing, not merely money: its old root also connects it to well-being and the wish to do well.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wealth
The word comes from Old English wela, meaning wealth, prosperity, or wellbeing, and continued into Middle English in the same general sense. Its Germanic root is also reflected in related forms such as well, weal, and welfare. Over time, the word developed from a broad notion of flourishing into its modern emphasis on material resources, while retaining figurative uses for abundance and valuable qualities.
Related word forms
How wealth is actually used
Wealth is generally formal or neutral. In its common financial sense, it is often uncountable, though 'wealths' is occasionally used, especially in technical or pluralized contexts. The figurative sense is common in expressions such as 'cultural wealth' and 'intellectual wealth'.
Easily confused with wealth
Health refers to a person's physical or mental condition, whereas wealth refers to possessions, money, and material prosperity.
Wealth is the usual modern word for material prosperity, while weal is an archaic term for wellbeing, happiness, or prosperity.