Word
abundance
Phoneticsabun·dance
US/əˈbəndəns/
UK/ɐbˈʌndəns/
Definitions
01a large quantity
n. a very large amount of something, often more than enough.
n. a great or plentiful amount; a profusion of something. Often used with the preposition 'of'.
“The garden had an abundance of flowers that attracted many bees.”
“The region is known for its abundance of natural resources, which has fueled rapid industrial growth over the last decade.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'an abundance of [noun]'.
02wealth and comfort
n. having a lot of money, food, and resources to live comfortably.
n. the state of being affluent or having a plentiful supply of resources. Often carries a connotation of prosperity.
“After years of hard work, the family finally lived in a state of abundance.”
“The documentary explores the contrast between the abundance of the city's elite and the poverty of its rural outskirts.”
Formal
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03scientific ratio
n. the amount of a specific thing found in a sample compared to other things.
n. the relative frequency or amount of a particular substance or species within a given environment or sample.
“Scientists measured the abundance of different gases in the atmosphere.”
“The study tracked the relative abundance of various bird species to determine the health of the local ecosystem.”
Technical
Usage
Frequently used in chemistry (isotopic abundance) and ecology (species abundance).
Synonyms
04political ideology
n. a political belief that focuses on building more housing, energy, and transport to help everyone.
n. a contemporary political framework, often termed 'abundance agenda', that prioritises increasing the supply of essential goods and infrastructure.
“The candidate campaigned on a platform of abundance to lower the cost of living.”
“Proponents of abundance argue that deregulation is necessary to accelerate the construction of clean energy projects.”
Academic
Usage
Usually refers to the 'abundance agenda' or 'supply-side' policy discussions.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Meanwhile, in so-called 'Empty Spain', depopulation continues to worsen, and despite the abundance of cheaper albeit largely derelict housing, hardly anyone wants to move there.” “One way I do this is by mapping molecules in space and finding patterns between their abundance and the conditions around them.” “They measured shrub cover, the abundance of grasstrees, the amount of bare ground and quenda digging activity by counting their foraging pits.” Etymology
From Middle English abundaunce, habaundance, from Old French habundance, abondance, from Latin abundantia (“fullness, plenty”), from abundō (“to overflow”). Equivalent to abound + -ance. Displaced Old English geniht (“abundance, plenty”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/abundance