Word
underworld
Phoneticsun·der·world, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈəndɝˌwɝɫd/
UK/ˈʌndəwˌɜːld/
Definitions
01criminal world
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the secret part of society where people are involved in serious crime and illegal business.
n. the collective environment of individuals and organisations engaged in professional or organised crime.
“The police spent years trying to find the leaders of the city's criminal underworld.”
“Investigative journalists often risk their lives to expose the connections between legitimate businesses and the local criminal underworld.”
Synonyms
02mythology
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Religion Literary
n. in ancient stories, the place under the earth where the spirits of the dead go.
n. the mythological or religious realm of the dead, typically conceived as being located beneath the surface of the earth.
“In Greek myths, Orpheus traveled to the underworld to bring back his wife.”
“The epic poem describes the hero's descent into the underworld to seek guidance from the spirits of his ancestors.”
03gaming
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Informal
n. the part of a video game world that is located underground.
n. the subterranean portion of a game's environment, often featuring distinct mechanics or higher difficulty.
“You need to find a secret tunnel to enter the underworld in this level.”
“Players must navigate the treacherous underworld to collect the rare minerals required for high-level crafting.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Local media linked the incident to the criminal underworld of Dutch drug lord Jos Leijdekkers, also known as “Bolle Jos” (“Fat Jos”).” “It’s all a grift in some grimy, gaming-adjacent underworld.” Etymology
From under- + world.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/underworld