Word
richness
Phoneticsrich·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹɪtʃnəs/
UK/ɹˈɪtʃnəs/
Definitions
01wealth
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of having a lot of money or valuable things.
n. the state or quality of possessing great material wealth or resources.
“The richness of the family was obvious from their large house and expensive cars.”
“Historians often debate whether the sudden richness of the merchant class led directly to the cultural shifts of the following century.”
Synonyms
02abundance and variety
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. having a large amount or a great variety of something useful or interesting.
n. the state of having a profusion or wide variety of examples, cases, or resources.
“The richness of the library's collection makes it a great place for research.”
“The sheer richness of detail in the witness's testimony convinced the jury that he was telling the truth.”
03biological variety
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the number of different types of plants and animals living in one area.
n. the number of different species represented in an ecological community, landscape, or region.
“Scientists are worried that the richness of the rainforest is disappearing.”
“Conservation efforts in the wetlands have successfully restored the species richness to levels not seen since the 1950s.”
Usage
Often used in the specific phrase 'species richness'.
Synonyms
04sensory depth
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a quality of food, sound, or colour that is deep, strong, and pleasing.
n. the quality of being pleasingly deep, vivid, or full in sensory characteristics such as flavour, colour, or sound.
“The richness of the chocolate cake made it hard to eat more than one piece.”
“The singer's voice had a natural richness that filled the concert hall even without a microphone.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“If you’re looking for a mayo without strong character, this one will fit the bill, but it falls short if you want depth and richness.” “An earthy coffee taste can be likened to the aroma of freshly turned soil or the richness of forest undergrowth.” “Greater species richness indicates a more distant water source, a common signal during El Niño.” “When we lose the dark, we lose a sensory richness.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English richenesse; by surface analysis, rich + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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