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• old-world
  old-world

  adjective

  of or relating to the ancient world or to a former period of history.
• Old World
  Old World

  noun

  Europe, Asia, and Africa, especially when regarded collectively as the inhabited landmasses of the world known to Europe prior to its discovery of the Americas.

old-world

¹ American  

[ohld-wurld] / ˈoʊldˈwɜrld /

adjective

1. of or relating to the ancient world or to a former period of history.

2. of or relating to the Old World.

   old-world customs.

3. characteristic of the Old World; quaint; traditional.

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Old World ² American  

[ohld wurld] / ˈoʊld ˌwɜrld /

noun

1. Europe, Asia, and Africa, especially when regarded collectively as the inhabited landmasses of the world known to Europe prior to its discovery of the Americas.

2. Eastern Hemisphere.

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old-world ¹ British  

adjective

1. of or characteristic of former times, esp, in Europe, quaint or traditional

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Old World ² British  

noun

1. that part of the world that was known before the discovery of the Americas, comprising Europe, Asia, and Africa; the eastern hemisphere

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Old World Cultural  

1. The Eastern Hemisphere, especially Europe, as opposed to the New World — the Americas.

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Other Word Forms

• old-worldliness
  noun
• old-worldly
  adjective
• old-worldly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of old-world¹

First recorded in 1705–15

Origin of Old World²

First recorded in 1590–1600

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

old-world Old World

Historic freezes in 1894 and 1895 nearly eradicated the industry, its first and last real brush with old-world calamity.

From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026

Now new owners Peter and Kirsten Kern are betting they can revive the old-world craft firm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026

As well as dressing up, they also try to replicate the posture, behaviours - such as using a fan - and "old-world way of speaking" of the Regency period.

From BBC ● Feb. 6, 2026

Dan Tana’s has endured, Martino said, in part because it can still deliver a charming, old-world experience.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2025

Representing the marriage of old-world traditions with the apple-pie aspirations of the new country, she took crown after crown.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

You can feel the quiet intensity with which this young man from the American Midwest immerses himself in the Old World and its wonders.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Old World hantaviruses, typically found in Europe and Asia, generally affect the kidneys.

From Salon ● May 9, 2026

In Africa, Asia and Europe, they are referred to as Old World hantaviruses.

From MarketWatch ● May 4, 2026

A combination of letters signifying a person or brand feels Old World rather than the shiny new feeling that defines our casual, everyday West Coast lifestyle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

From east to west in the Old World, the Macedonian Empire and the Roman Empire both spanned 3,000 miles, the Mongol Empire 6,000 miles.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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Related Words

• antiquated
• archaic
• charming
• curious
• cute
• fanciful
• picturesque
• twee
• whimsical

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