worldly

Word family

• world
  nounA1
• unworldly
  adjectiveC1
• worldly-wise
  adjectiveC1
• worldliness
  nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words describe someone who knows the world well, but with important differences. 'Sophisticated' emphasises cultured taste, refinement, and knowledge of art, fashion, or etiquette — someone can be sophisticated without being worldly if their experience comes from books rather than life. 'Experienced' is the broadest term; it applies to any field (an experienced teacher, driver, negotiator) and does not specifically imply social savvy. 'Seasoned' suggests long, steady exposure to a particular environment (a seasoned journalist, a seasoned traveller) and carries a sense of resilience. 'Worldly-wise' is the closest synonym to 'worldly' itself and is often used interchangeably; if there is a difference, 'worldly-wise' sometimes suggests a degree of caution or healthy scepticism gained from being disappointed. For example, a worldly diplomat may still be idealistic, but a worldly-wise one has learned not to trust promises too easily.

Common collocations

Etymology

'Worldly' comes from Old English 'woroldlic', a combination of 'worold' (meaning 'world' or 'human existence') and the suffix '-lic' (which later became '-ly'). In Old English, 'worold' already carried the sense of 'earthly life' as opposed to heavenly or spiritual existence. The word has kept this core contrast for over a thousand years into modern English. The second sense — 'having practical life experience' — developed later, appearing in the 16th century as people began using 'worldly' to describe someone who was skilled in the ways of society.