nether world

American  

Or netherworld

noun

1. the infernal regions; hell.

2. the afterworld, or the hereafter.

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nether world British  

noun

1. the world after death; the underworld

2. hell

3. a criminal underworld

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Etymology

Origin of nether world

First recorded in 1630–40

Example Sentences

In going after the widest audience possible, “Bros” may have fallen into a marketplace nether world — too straight for gay audiences, and too gay for straight ones, some analysts posited.

From New York Times • Oct. 2, 2022

That nether world is closer than is immediately obvious.

From Washington Post • Sep. 12, 2016

“As a ‘biomort,’ or a ‘beating heart cadaver,’ Maya was suspended in a nether world between life and death.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2013

The ground holds 12,000 spectators and has planning permission for double that number, but the dream is for Heineken Cup rugby rather than the nether world of the Championship.

From The Guardian • Apr. 24, 2010

But in this black-white nether world, nobody judged the customers.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey