Vermögende

Vermögende is a German term used to describe people with substantial wealth. As an adjective, vermögend means wealthy or financially well-off. When used as a noun, either der Vermögende (singular, masculine) or die Vermögenden (plural) can refer to wealthy individuals or groups; the plural form is common in statistical or policy writing.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from Vermögen, meaning wealth or assets, with the suffix -ende forming an adjective and, in some contexts, a noun. It has been used in German-language statistics, sociology, and political discourse to denote people who possess significant assets or net worth.

Context and nuance: Vermögende is typically employed in discussions of wealth distribution, social stratification, and economic policy. Its exact meaning depends on the threshold used (such as net worth or asset level) in a given study or regulation. The tone can be neutral in descriptive contexts or evaluative in policy debates about taxation, redistribution, or social services.

Policy and law: In German public discourse, the Vermögende are often central to debates on wealth taxation, inheritance tax, and tax fairness. Although the term is widely understood, there is no single universal legal definition; thresholds vary across laws, studies, and proposals. In policymaking, it serves to distinguish asset-based considerations from income-based analyses.

See also: Vermögen; Vermögend (adjective); Vermögende Privatpersonen (phrase used in policy language).