affluenza
affluenza Lexical Profile
affluenza Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A psychological malaise or social condition supposedly affecting wealthy people, characterized by a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, or a sense of isolation resulting from extreme materialism and privilege.
"The documentary argued that modern consumer culture has created an epidemic of affluenza among the upper classes."
An inability to understand the consequences of one's actions because of financial privilege, notably invoked as a controversial legal defense for wealthy young offenders.
"Public outrage followed the trial after an expert witness suggested the teenager suffered from affluenza due to his overly indulgent upbringing."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Affluenza' is a sociological and journalistic portmanteau rather than a recognized clinical diagnosis in medical or psychiatric manuals.
• Rhymes for affluenza
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-20th century as a portmanteau blending 'affluence' and 'influenza', and later popularized by a 1997 PBS documentary and subsequent books critiquing modern consumerism.