underworld

noun

un·​der·​world ˈən-dər-ˌwərld 

1

: the place of departed souls : hades

2

archaic : earth

3

: the side of the earth opposite to one : antipodes

4

: a social sphere below the level of ordinary life

the town's seedy underworld

especially : the world of organized crime

Synonyms of underworld

• abyss
• netherworld
• depths
• demimonde

Examples of underworld in a Sentence

a magazine article taking an insightful look at the underworld inhabited by street people

Recent Examples on the Web

Dementia related to untreated syphilis left him incapable of resuming his position atop the country’s criminal underworld. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2026

The show revolved around Crockett and Tubbs, two undercover detectives infiltrating South Florida’s criminal underworld. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Rankin’s study of the Japanese underworld really begins in the early seventeenth century. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

The film follows two brothers who become entangled in a dangerous criminal underworld. — Marc Malkin, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing underworld

• the underworld

Rhymes for underworld

• netherworld
• otherworld
• curled
• furled
• hurled
• knurled
• swirled
• twirled
• whirled
• whorled
• world
• lifeworld

Kids Definition

underworld

noun

un·​der·​world ˈən-dər-ˌwərld 

1

: the place of the souls of the dead

2

: the side of the earth opposite to one

3

: the world of organized crime