fortune-hunter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequencyFormal, archaic, literary
Quick answer
What does “fortune-hunter” mean?
A person who seeks to marry someone wealthy for the sake of their money.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who seeks to marry someone wealthy for the sake of their money.
A person who pursues wealth or profit opportunistically, often through association with wealthy individuals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition. The compound form with hyphen is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Both share negative, archaic connotations. In British usage, it may be more strongly associated with period literature (e.g., Jane Austen, Victorian novels).
Frequency
Rare in modern speech in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “fortune-hunter” in a Sentence
fortune-hunter + [preposition] + person (e.g., fortune-hunter after an heiress)be/label/call + someone + a fortune-hunterVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fortune-hunter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was accused of fortune-hunting amongst the county's gentry.
American English
- She suspected he was only fortune-hunting when he proposed.
adjective
British English
- His fortune-hunting intentions became clear to everyone.
American English
- They uncovered a fortune-hunting scheme targeting elderly widows.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for an investor or partner solely interested in financial gain. Rare.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or literary studies discussing marriage and economics.
Everyday
Extremely rare in modern casual conversation. Would be considered a dated or literary term.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fortune-hunter”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fortune-hunter”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fortune-hunter”
- Using it to describe someone who hunts for treasure or luck (literal misinterpretation).
- Spelling as one word without a hyphen ('fortunehunter').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'gold-digger' is a modern, more common synonym, though it can be considered more informal and sometimes carries gendered connotations.
Yes, although historically more common for men, it can apply to any gender. Modern usage is gender-neutral.
It is rare in everyday conversation and sounds somewhat old-fashioned or literary. 'Gold-digger' or 'opportunist' are more frequent in modern speech.
A fortune-hunter is primarily motivated by direct financial gain, often through marriage. A social climber seeks higher social status, which may or may not involve immediate monetary wealth.
A person who seeks to marry someone wealthy for the sake of their money.
Fortune-hunter is usually formal, archaic, literary in register.
Fortune-hunter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːtʃuːn ˌhʌntə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːrtʃən ˌhʌntər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Marry for money, you earn every penny.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person with a metal detector (hunting) on a beach made of gold coins (fortune), but they are only scanning near wealthy people, not the sand.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOVE/RELATIONSHIP IS A MARKET / MARRIAGE IS A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'fortune-hunter' MOST appropriately used?