Affluent means having a lot of money and the comfortable lifestyle that comes with it. An affluent family can afford nice things without worrying much about the cost: a spacious house, good food, vacations, and quality education. Affluent neighborhoods often have well-maintained homes, parks, and excellent schools.

The word suggests abundant wealth, with a financial cushion and lots of choices. While a middle-class family might budget carefully and save for special purchases, an affluent family has more financial freedom. They might own multiple cars, donate generously to causes they care about, or send their children to expensive summer camps without it straining their budget.

You might hear about “affluent suburbs” or read that a character in a novel “grew up in affluent circumstances.”