earthly

[urth-lee]

adjective

earthlier, earthliest 

1. of or relating to the earth, especially as opposed to heaven; worldly.

   Synonyms: mortal, temporal, secular
   Antonyms: divine, spiritual

2. possible or conceivable.

   an invention of no earthly use to anyone.

earthly

/ ˈɜːθlɪ /

adjective

1. of or characteristic of the earth as opposed to heaven; material or materialistic; worldly

2. informal,  (usually used with a negative) conceivable or possible; feasible (in such phrases as not an earthly ( chance ), etc)

Other Word Forms

• earthliness noun
• superearthly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of earthly¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English erth(e)ly, Old English eorthlīc. See earth, -ly

Synonym Study

Earthly, terrestrial, worldly, mundane refer to that which is concerned with the earth literally or figuratively. Earthly now almost always implies a contrast to that which is heavenly: earthly pleasures; our earthly home. Terrestrial, from Latin, is the dignified equivalent of earthly, and it applies to the earth as a planet or to the land as opposed to the water: the terrestrial globe; terrestrial areas. Worldly is commonly used in the sense of being devoted to the vanities, cares, advantages, or gains of this present life to the exclusion of spiritual interests or the life to come: worldly success; worldly standards. Mundane, from Latin, is a formal equivalent of worldly and suggests that which is bound to the earth, is not exalted, and therefore is commonplace: mundane pursuits.

Example Sentences

A xenomorph inches close enough for the crab to raise its claws in defense before backing away from its tiny earthly cousin.

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It’s a lesson, this richly satisfying production suggests, that no earthly power can destroy except death — and possibly not even that.

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The world’s luckiest man has finally used all his earthly good fortune.

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“Perhaps those people will escape earthly justice, the justice of man, but when it comes to the justice of our Father God, no one escapes,” he said.

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Just over a century later, Teddy Roosevelt said of the vice presidency, “I certainly do not want to hold a position of titular dignity and of no earthly practical importance for four years.”

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Related Words

• carnal 
• mundane 
• physical 
• temporal 
• terrestrial 
• worldly