millionaire: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal in financial contexts; can be informal in hyperbolic or metaphorical use.
Quick answer
What does “millionaire” mean?
A person whose wealth amounts to at least one million units of currency (pounds, dollars, etc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person whose wealth amounts to at least one million units of currency (pounds, dollars, etc.).
A person who is extremely rich; more broadly, someone who has achieved great financial success. In modern usage, the term can be extended metaphorically to mean someone with an abundance of non-monetary assets (e.g., 'a millionaire in friends').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation differ. The term 'millionairess' for a female millionaire is now dated and rarely used in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of self-made success, luxury, and social status. In American English, it is strongly linked to the 'American Dream' narrative.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties. The aspirational concept is deeply embedded in both cultures.
Grammar
How to Use “millionaire” in a Sentence
[SUBJECT] became a millionaire[SUBJECT] is a millionairea millionaire in [CURRENCY/FIELD]millionaire [NOUN] (e.g., millionaire businessman)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “millionaire” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He leads a millionaire lifestyle.
- The couple had millionaire ambitions.
American English
- She lived in a millionaire neighborhood.
- It was a millionaire idea.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe entrepreneurs, investors, or high-net-worth clients (e.g., 'catering to millionaire investors').
Academic
Appears in economics, sociology, and history papers discussing wealth distribution and social class.
Everyday
Common in news, biographies, and aspirational talk (e.g., 'He won the lottery and became an instant millionaire.').
Technical
Not a technical financial term; precise wealth classifications use specific net worth brackets.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “millionaire”
- Misspelling as 'millionare'. Incorrectly using as a verb (e.g., 'He millionaired his way to the top' is non-standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The term 'millionaire' is gender-neutral. The dated form 'millionairess' is now considered unnecessary and is rarely used.
Originally yes, but in modern usage it often means 'extremely wealthy', typically implying net worth significantly above one million, especially in contexts like 'multi-millionaire'.
No, it is not standard. The process is described with verbs like 'become', 'make', or 'earn' (e.g., 'He made his first million').
Yes, a billionaire has a net worth of at least one billion units of currency, which is a thousand times greater than a millionaire's minimum threshold.
A person whose wealth amounts to at least one million units of currency (pounds, dollars, etc.
Millionaire is usually neutral to formal in financial contexts; can be informal in hyperbolic or metaphorical use. in register.
Millionaire: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪljəˈneə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪljəˌner/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LION in a MANSION: 'MILLION' has a 'LION' in it, and a lion in a mansion sounds rich!
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS A MEASURABLE QUANTITY (reaching the 'million' milestone); WEALTH IS A DESTINATION ('becoming' a millionaire).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the strongest collocation with 'millionaire'?