Old World

1 of 2

noun

old-world

2 of 2

adjective

ˈōl(d)-ˈwər(-ə)ld 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Old World

old-world traditions/attitudes/beliefs

Many recipes for old-world cakes … call for whisking egg yolks with sugar until a pale yellow foam forms.

—Ben Mims

Pronghorns, distinctly North American and not allied to old-world goats or antelope, are the fastest land mammals on earth after cheetahs.

—Ted Williams

often : having the charm or picturesque qualities of the Old World

narrow old-world streets

… the house radiates a European sensibility … By recognizing and building upon this appealing old-world integrity, Joanne Deakins has placed the definitive stamp of her own decorating taste and style on the home's interior and furnishings.

—Southern Accents

The hotel is very old-world, and the tall dining room has all the accoutrements that a luxury hotel once required.

—Lillian Langseth-Christensen

Phrases

the Old World

: the eastern hemisphere exclusive of Australia

… the pomegranate has been naturalized for so long throughout the Old World that no one is quite sure where it originated (but Persia seems most likely).

—Elizabeth Schneider

During the late Miocene, various kinds of apes evolved in widely separated parts of the Old World (but none in the New World).

—Marvin Harris

specifically : the continent of Europe

The Atlantic is a Lethean stream, in our passage over which we have had an opportunity to forget the Old World and its institutions.

—Henry David Thoreau

From America, the Old World would receive new staffs of life, such as corn and potatoes, as well as some of life's guilty pleasures, such as tobacco and chocolate.

—Peter Winn

compare new world

Synonyms

Adjective

• antique
• old-fashioned
• old-school
• old-time
• old-timey
• oldfangled
• quaint
• retro
• retrograde
• vintage

Examples of Old World in a Sentence

Adjective

the theater has been painstakingly restored to its old-world elegance

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Indulge in old-world elegance over tea and pastries at Lourse Warsawa patisserie, founded in 1821 and housed within a neo-renaissance palace turned hotel Raffles Europejski Warsaw. —Kasia Dietz, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2024

Rather than delude themselves into thinking that modern tools had unburdened them of that old-world obligation, Chung and co. opted to go much the same route. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 July 2024

The ancient quarter, dotted with cobblestone streets and Renaissance-era walls, still maintains its old-world charm. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 July 2024

Opening in 2021 after six years of intensive renovations, the dazzling decor blends an old-world spirit with more modish touches, from lavish bathrooms clad in Italian marble and French lacquer marquetry to contemporary artworks and a cutting-edge spa and fitness center. —Vogue, 8 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1596, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1712, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

old-world

1 of 2 adjective

ˈōl-ˈ(d)wər(-ə)ld

1

: of or relating to the Old World

2

: having old-fashioned charm

Old World

2 of 2 noun

: the eastern hemisphere except Australia

especially : the continent of Europe