worldling

American

[wurld-ling] / ˈwɜrld lɪŋ /

noun

a person devoted to the interests and pleasures of this world; a worldly person.

Those who sought money and treasures were indiscriminately classed as worldlings and apostates.

worldling British

/ ˈwɜːldlɪŋ /

noun

a person who is primarily concerned with worldly matters or material things

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of worldling

First recorded in 1540–50; world + -ling ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I had lived my adulthood as a postmodern man, a worldling of the coasts and cities.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2016

It is Andrew Cruickshank's worldling Warwick and, even more, John Buckmaster's weakling Dauphin, that come closest to doing Shaw justice.

From Time Magazine Archive

His David is both an evildoer and a decent-minded worldling.

From Time Magazine Archive

He was a worldling, father of a family, unamenable to her teachings.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was a sorrow that none should witness; and, worldling as he was, he felt it.

From Luttrell Of Arran Complete by Lever, Charles James

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023