gold-digger: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, derogatory.
Quick answer
What does “gold-digger” mean?
A person, usually a woman, who enters a relationship primarily for money and material gain, rather than love.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, usually a woman, who enters a relationship primarily for money and material gain, rather than love.
More broadly, anyone who seeks to profit financially from a relationship with a wealthy person; can also refer to someone who excessively pursues money in general contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Meaning is identical. Spelling: 'gold-digger' is standard in both, though 'gold digger' (without hyphen) is also common in US usage.
Connotations
Equally pejorative in both varieties. In US pop culture, the term is more frequent due to media portrayals.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US media and casual speech.
Grammar
How to Use “gold-digger” in a Sentence
[be/become/label as] a gold-digger[accuse/call/describe] someone a gold-diggerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gold-digger” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She's just gold-digging.
- He accused her of gold-digging.
American English
- Stop gold-digging and get a real job.
- They were gold-digging their way through the party.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; rarely used)
American English
- (Not standard; rarely used)
adjective
British English
- She has a gold-digger mentality.
- His gold-digger girlfriend left him when the money ran out.
American English
- That was a gold-digger move.
- I'm tired of his gold-digger relatives.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, might appear in sociology or gender studies discussing relationship economics.
Everyday
Common in gossip, media, and relationship discussions.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gold-digger”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gold-digger”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gold-digger”
- Using it to describe someone who is simply ambitious or good with money. The term implies exploitation within a personal relationship.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though the term is historically and most commonly applied to women. A man seeking a wealthy woman for her money can also be called a gold-digger or a 'fortune hunter'.
Yes, it is a derogatory term implying manipulation and a lack of genuine affection. It is not a neutral description.
A materialistic person values possessions highly. A gold-digger specifically uses a romantic or personal relationship as a means to gain those possessions from their partner.
In formal writing, the hyphen is standard for this compound noun. In informal US English, 'gold digger' (open form) is increasingly common.
A person, usually a woman, who enters a relationship primarily for money and material gain, rather than love.
Gold-digger is usually informal, derogatory. in register.
Gold-digger: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡəʊld ˌdɪɡ.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡoʊld ˌdɪɡ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All that glitters is not gold (related concept warning against superficial attraction).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of someone with a shovel, not digging for real gold, but digging into a rich person's wallet.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS A RESOURCE TO BE MINED / A RELATIONSHIP IS A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'gold-digger' most appropriately used?