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Definition of underworld

underworld

/ˈʌn.dɚˌwɝːld/
un · der · world
Plural:underworlds
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underworld Lexical Profile

underworld Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The world of criminals and organized crime, operating secretly outside the law.

Example

"The investigative journalist spent years documenting the financial networks of the city's criminal underworld."

2

In various mythologies and religions, a subterranean realm inhabited by the souls of the dead.

Example

"In Greek mythology, Orpheus ventured into the underworld to retrieve his wife Eurydice."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

underwood
underwork
underworked
underworld
underwrite
underwriter
underwriting

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 17th century from the prefix 'under-' and 'world', originally translating the Latin 'inferi' or Greek 'Hades' to denote the realm of the dead.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Underworld. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/underworld
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