underworld

noun

un·​der·​world ˈən-dər-ˌwərld How to pronounce underworld (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Set against the backdrop of Corsica in 1995, the narrative follows the father-daughter pair as they’re forced to flee when violence erupts in the criminal underworld. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024 As the title indicates, the story centers around Hit-Monkey (Fred Tatasciore), a snow monkey intent on taking out the Tokyo underworld with the help of his mentor, Bryce Fowler (Jason Sudeikis). Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024 That leads them into a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024 These communities say that dogs are the ones who accompany souls on their way to eternal rest, which is reached after traveling through the nine underworlds. Paula Soria, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for underworld 

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underworld was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near underworld

Cite this Entry

“Underworld.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underworld. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

underworld

noun
un·​der·​world ˈən-dər-ˌwərld How to pronounce underworld (audio)
1
: the place of the souls of the dead
2
: the side of the earth opposite to one
3
: the world of organized crime

More from Merriam-Webster on underworld

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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