affluent society
C2Formal / Academic
Definition
Meaning
A society in which most people enjoy a high standard of living due to widespread wealth and abundance of consumer goods.
A concept describing a post-industrial economy characterized by high levels of mass consumption, economic security, and significant material comfort for the majority of its citizens.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term was popularized by economist John Kenneth Galbraith in his 1958 book 'The Affluent Society'. It often implies a critique of priorities, suggesting that private wealth may grow while public services (like infrastructure and education) are neglected.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. The concept originates in American economic thought but is equally used in British socio-political discourse.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can carry a critical or analytical connotation about societal values, not merely a descriptive one.
Frequency
More frequent in academic, economic, and political writing than in everyday speech. Slightly more common in American English due to the term's origin.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The/An] + affluent society + [verb e.g., creates, produces, fosters]In + [determiner] + affluent societyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No direct idioms. The term itself is a fixed socio-economic concept.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in market analysis to describe consumer demographics with high disposable income.
Academic
Central term in economics, sociology, and political science for discussing post-WWII Western economies and their social structures.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used in political or social commentary.
Technical
A defined socio-economic concept with specific historical and theoretical baggage, especially referencing Galbraith's work.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The policies aimed to affluent the society.
- We cannot simply affluent our way to happiness.
American English
- Technological advances helped affluent the mid-century society.
- The goal was to affluent the broader population.
adverb
British English
- The country developed affluently into a modern society.
- They lived affluently society-wise.
American English
- The nation progressed affluently as a society.
- Consumption grew affluently throughout society.
adjective
British English
- They lived in an affluent society era.
- The affluent society model was widely debated.
American English
- Post-war America was the quintessential affluent society nation.
- An affluent society mindset took hold.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Some countries are very rich. They have an affluent society.
- In an affluent society, many people can buy cars and modern gadgets.
- Critics argue that the affluent society creates too much waste and ignores the poor.
- Galbraith's 'The Affluent Society' questioned the focus on private wealth over public investment in post-war America.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'AFFLUENT' sounds like 'a flood' of wealth – a society flooded with money and goods.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A CONTAINER (filled with wealth/abundance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'аффлюентное общество'. Use 'общество изобилия' or 'богатое общество'. The term is specific and often translated as 'общество потребления' (consumer society), though nuances differ.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a simple synonym for 'rich country' without the socio-economic critique. Misspelling as 'effluent society' (which refers to wastewater).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key implication of the term 'affluent society' in its original use?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The term was popularized and given its modern socio-economic meaning by the Canadian-American economist John Kenneth Galbraith in his 1958 book of the same name.
Not necessarily. While it describes material wealth, it is often used critically to highlight problems like inequality, consumerism, and underfunded public services that can coexist with general affluence.
It is best used for advanced industrial/post-industrial economies with widespread mass consumption, typically referencing Western nations in the latter half of the 20th century. Using it for a historically wealthy empire like Rome would be anachronistic.
They are closely related. 'Affluent society' emphasizes the condition of widespread wealth, while 'consumer society' focuses on the behaviors and economic systems (mass production, advertising, consumption) that characterize such a society. They are often used interchangeably.