Affluence is a state of having abundant money, goods, or social prestige, often implying comfortable living and access to resources. It denotes substantial wealth rather than mere income, and can also reflect the cultural influences and opportunities that come with financial prosperity. The term is commonly used in economics, sociology, and discussions of lifestyle inequality.
"The city’s affluence is evident in its well-funded schools, clean parks, and upscale shops."
"Despite his affluence, he remained mindful of charitable giving and community impact."
"Efforts to reduce urban inequality focus on balancing access to affluence across neighborhoods."
"Researchers studied how affluence affects political influence and consumer behavior."
Affluence comes from the Old French affluence, from affluer ‘to flow’ (from Latin fluere, ‘to flow’). The root idea is abundance flowing toward someone, akin to resources accumulating like a river. Middle English borrowed affluence from Old French in the 15th century, originally more about inflow or abundance in general. By the 19th century, the word narrowed in English to describe wealth and material abundance. Over time, affluence acquired social connotations, suggesting not just money but access to opportunities, luxury, and social status. The term has since been used broadly in economics and sociology to contrast affluent societies with those lacking resources, and it often appears in analyses of consumption, inequality, and development. The word’s evolution mirrors changes in economic vocabulary as societies grapple with growing wealth disparities and the cultural meanings attached to money and comfort.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Affluence" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Affluence" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Affluence"
-nce sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈæf.lu.əns/. The stress is on the first syllable: AF-LOO-ence. The middle syllable is a light /lu/ with a quick, unstressed schwa or reduced vowel in rapid speech. To practice: say ‘af’ with an open front vowel, then ‘loo’ as a clear 'loo' vowel, and finish with ‘ence’ where the final /əns/ is a quick, soft 'uhns' ending. Audio references: you can compare with Cambridge and Oxford pronunciations, or listen on Forvo for native speakers.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (e.g., af-flu-ence with incorrect first syllable emphasis), pronouncing the middle as /luː/ with a long 'oo' sound, or ending with a hard /ns/ while the ending should be a light /əns/. Correction: keep the first syllable stressed with /æ/ as in ‘cat’, shorten the middle to /lu/ or /luə/, and finish with a soft /əns/. Practicing the full sequence slowly helps integrate the natural reduction in casual speech.
In US, UK, and AU, the initial /æ/ as in 'cat' remains similar, with stress on the first syllable. Differences lie in the middle: US often reduces the /lu/ to a quicker /luə/ and the ending /əns/ can be slightly schwa-like. UK may maintain a crisper /lu/ before a reduced ending, while AU tends toward a flatter, more centralized vowel in the first syllable and a slightly elongated final /əns/. Overall, non-rhotic tendencies are not strong here; rhoticity is similar across three, with minor vowel quality shifts.
The difficulty lies in the unstressed, reduced middle syllable and the trailing /əns/ cluster after a heavy initial /æ/ syllable. The transition from a stressed /æ/ to a quick /lu/ and then the subtle /əns/ requires precise timing and tongue placement. The challenge is maintaining the short, clipped /lu/ without turning it into a full /luː/ and ensuring the final /ns/ is not a hard 'n' followed by a pronounced 's' but a light, almost inaudible 'ns' blend.
The correct ending is /əns/ as in 'ence' with a soft, reduced vowel before the final /ns/. It is not /lence/ (which would require an extra /l/ sound). The sequence is /æf/, /luː/ or /lu/ depending on accent, then /əns/. Practicing minimal pairs like ‘affluent’ vs. ‘affluence’ helps highlight that the noun ends with a light, unstressed /əns/ rather than a strong 'lence' pronunciation.
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