affluent

Definitions

af- (a form of ad-, 'toward') + flu (flow) + -ent = 'flowing toward.' Originally it described water flowing toward a point. But what people most want flowing toward them, in abundance, is money — so 'flowing toward' quietly became 'wealthy.' An affluent person has resources streaming in.

Why It Means This

Affluent means 'flowing toward' (af- + flu). The image is of wealth pouring steadily in your direction, like a river flowing into a lake. That is why affluent and affluence are about prosperity, not just water — the original 'tributary flowing toward' sense survives only in old technical use.

Common Collocations

• 1.affluent society富裕社会
• 2.affluent neighborhood富裕社区
• 3.affluent customers富裕客户
• 4.increasingly affluent日益富裕

Example Sentences

• 1.

  They live in an affluent suburb outside the city.

• 2.

  The store targets affluent young professionals.

Easily Confused

affluent vs wealthy vs rich — all mean having money, but affluent is the most formal and often describes a comfortable, prosperous lifestyle of a whole group (an affluent society). rich is the plainest and broadest; wealthy sits in between, suggesting established, substantial assets.