- 1 [uncountable] a large amount of money, property, etc. that a person or country owns a person of wealth and influence His personal wealth is estimated at around $100 million. the distribution of wealth in Britain CollocationsFinanceIncome earn money/cash/(informal) a fortune make money/a fortune/(informal) a killing on the stock market acquire/inherit/amass wealth/a fortune build up funds/savings get/receive/leave (somebody) an inheritance/a legacy live on a low wage/a fixed income/a pension get/receive/draw/collect a pension depend/be dependent on (British English) benefits/(North American English) welfare/social securityExpenditure spend money/your savings/(informal) a fortune on… invest/put your savings in… throw away/waste/ (informal) shell out money on… lose your money/inheritance/pension use up/ (informal) wipe out all your savings pay (in) cash use/pay by a credit/debit card pay by/make out a/write somebody a/accept a (British English) cheque/(US English) check change/exchange money/currency/(British English) traveller’s cheques/(US English) traveler’s checks give/pay/leave (somebody) a depositBanks have/hold/open/close/freeze a bank account/an account credit/debit/pay something into/take money out of your account deposit money/funds in your account withdraw money/cash/£30 from an ATM, etc. (formal) make a deposit/withdrawal find/go to/use (especially North American English) an ATM/(British English) a cash machine/dispenser be in credit/in debit/in the black/in the red/overdrawnPersonal finance manage/handle/plan/run/ (especially British English) sort out your finances plan/manage/work out/stick to a budget offer/extend credit (to somebody) arrange/take out a loan/an overdraft pay back/repay money/a loan/a debt pay for something in (especially British English) instalments/(usually North American English) installmentsFinancial difficulties get into debt/financial difficulties be short of/ (informal) be strapped for cash run out of/owe money face/get/ (informal) be landed with a bill for £… can’t afford the cost of…/payments/rent fall behind with/ (especially North American English) fall behind on the mortgage/repayments/rent incur/run up/accumulate debts tackle/reduce/settle your debts Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveconsiderable, enormous, fabulous, … verb + wealthhave, possess, accumulate, … phrasesa distribution of wealth, a redistribution of wealth See full entry
- 2 [uncountable] the state of being rich The purpose of industry is to create wealth. Good education often depends on wealth. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveconsiderable, enormous, fabulous, … verb + wealthhave, possess, accumulate, … phrasesa distribution of wealth, a redistribution of wealth See full entry
- 3[singular] wealth of something a large amount of something a wealth of information The new manager brings a great wealth of experience to the job. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveenormous, great, immense, … verb + a wealth ofhave, offer, provide, … prepositionof … wealth See full entry compare richness Word OriginMiddle English welthe, from well ‘good’ or weal ‘for the best of someone/something’, on the pattern of health.Extra examples He has no family with whom he can share his wealth. He lost his wealth through poor investment. He’s never flaunted his wealth. It is a country of fabulous wealth. Rising employment and household wealth are bolstering spending. She enjoys enormous wealth and material pleasures. She is a woman of untold wealth. She wants to protect their new-found wealth. Switzerland has an enormous wealth of beautiful old buildings. The average family increased its net wealth by 50% between 1989 and 2001. The country’s strong economy was built on its mineral wealth. The region possesses a vast natural wealth, particularly of timber. The website provides a wealth of information. This chapter contains a wealth of information in a very concise form. a redistribution of wealth through taxation a tax on inherited wealth the accumulated wealth from his business the great oil wealth of the region the kind of capital that generates new wealth the pursuit of instant wealth the relative wealth of the nation the total wealth of the global economy She called for a redistribution of wealth and power in society. There will undoubtedly be new taxes on corporate wealth. a woman of wealth and influence
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