Meaning & use
new money
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Meanings
noununcountableinformal
Wealth that has been recently acquired, as opposed to inherited wealth; the people who have such wealth.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun: 'New money is often seen as less refined.' Can also be used before another noun: 'a new money family'.
Patterns
- new money family
- be new money
The neighborhood was full of new money, with large modern houses.
He's new money; he made his fortune in tech.
New money often tries to imitate the tastes of old money.
noununcountablefinance
Money that has recently become available or been printed, especially in an economy.
Grammar: Used in financial contexts: 'The central bank injected new money into the system.'
Patterns
- inject new money
- print new money
The government promised to put new money into public services.
The central bank created new money to buy bonds.
Common combinations
- old money
- Old money families often look down on new money.
- new money vs old money
- The novel explores the conflict between new money and old money.
- new money crowd
- The new money crowd bought up all the luxury apartments.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nouveau riche
- Nouveau riche is a French borrowing with a similar meaning but is more formal and often more critical.
- parvenu
- Parvenu is a formal, literary term for a person who has recently gained wealth or status but is not accepted by the established elite.
Opposites
Word family
- newly rich adjective
- Having recently become rich; similar to new money but used as an adjective.
Commonly confused: new money or old money?
new money vs old money
Old money refers to wealth that has been in a family for generations, while new money is recently acquired.
Practice
What does 'new money' typically refer to?
Choose one answer.
'New money' usually means recently acquired wealth, often contrasted with inherited 'old money'. Option 1 describes old money. Option 3 is a financial sense but not the main social one. Option 4 is not related.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “new money”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.