nouveau riche UK /ˌnuː.vəʊ ˈɹiːʃ/US /ˌnu.voʊ ˈɹiʃ/adjective 1noun 1forms 1 adjective1 •Newly rich; like a nouveau riche. noun1 •(disapproving) New money; wealthy persons whose fortunes are newly acquired, and who are therefore perceived to lack the refinement of those who were raised wealthy.Twenty-four hours later we were both in the vast halls of the Winter Palace in full uniform, as bedizened with gold as a nouveau riche’s drawing-room. — 1921 formsnouveaux riches
