first world

noun

variants often First World

: the highly developed industrialized nations often considered the westernized countries of the world

Word History

Etymology

after third world

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of first world was in 1967

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Cite this Entry

Style

“First world.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20world. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

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