worldly

Meaning

Adj

1. Concerned with human or earthly matters, physical as opposed to spiritual.
2. Concerned with secular rather than sacred matters.
3. Sophisticated, especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world.

Adv

In a worldly manner.

Synonyms

mundane

secular

earthly

temporal

material

terrestrial

fleshly

blase

sophisticated

worldly-wise

earthy

human

profane

sublunary

universal

worldly-minded

experienced

of this world

old

🧓

ordinary

physical

popular

posh

practiced

mammonish

seasoned

everyday

secularistic

senior

sensual

crested

sublunar

given up to the world

cosmic

terrene

coarse

transmigratory

tried

unconsecrated

experient

versed

vulgar

secular vulgar

classy

cupid

💘

laic

lay

life

irreligious

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈwɜː(ɹ)ldli/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: worldly

Inherited from Old English: woruldlīċ

Cognate with Dutch: wereldlijk

Cognate with German: weltlich

Cognate with Danish: verdslig

Cognate with Swedish: världslig

Cognate with Icelandic: veraldlegur

Inherited from Old English: woroldlīċe

In summary

table
From Middle English worldly, worldlich, wordly (adjective), from Old English woruldlīċ, worldlīċ, weoroldlīċ (“worldly; earthly; temporal; mundane; secular”), from Proto-Germanic *weraldilīkaz, equivalent to world + -ly. Cognate with Dutch wereldlijk (“worldly; secular”), German Low German weltlik (“worldly”), German weltlich (“worldly”), Danish verdslig (“worldly”), Swedish världslig (“worldly”), Icelandic veraldlegur (“worldly; secular”).