Weltanschauung

noun

Welt·​an·​schau·​ung ˈvelt-ˌän-ˌshau̇-əŋ How to pronounce Weltanschauung (audio)
variants or less commonly weltanschauung
plural Weltanschauungen ˈvelt-ˌän-ˌshau̇-əŋ-ən How to pronounce Weltanschauung (audio) also Weltanschauungs ˈvelt-ˌän-ˌshau̇-əŋz How to pronounce Weltanschauung (audio)
: a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a specific standpoint : worldview
… she possesses a weltanschauung that is unremittingly positive …Leonore Fleischer
In my personal Weltanschauung, there is nothing wrong with arm hair, giant headphones are silly and skin-lightening products are creepy and grim.Victoria Coren Mitchell
"… We thought we could make things better for everyone. I shared that whole Kennedy-era Weltanschauung. …"Jim McBride
… British bloggers and readers are far more familiar with the American Weltanschauung. But are we also starting to write like Americans?Daniel Hannan

Word History

Etymology

German, from Welt world + Anschauung view

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Weltanschauung was in 1868

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near Weltanschauung

Cite this Entry

“Weltanschauung.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Weltanschauung. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

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