Definitions

old-world

[ohld-wurld] / ˈoʊldˈwɜrld /

ADJECTIVE

retro

Synonyms

STRONG

period

WEAK

dated evocative in period style nostalgic old-fashioned out-of-date passé

Antonyms

WEAK

modern

ADJECTIVE

quaint

Synonyms

STRONGEST

antiquated archaic charming curious cute fanciful picturesque twee whimsical

WEAK

Gothic Victorian affected ancient antique artful baroque captivating colonial enchanting ingenious pleasing

Antonyms

STRONGEST

modern new ordinary ugly

WEAK

common conventional current newfangled regular up-to-date usual

NOUN

native land

Synonyms

STRONGEST

country of origin homeland

WEAK

God's country birthplace fatherland home mother country motherland native soil old country old world terra firma the old country

NOUN

old country

Synonyms

WEAK

birthplace country of origin fatherland homeland mother country motherland native country native land native soil old world one's native soil the old country

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.

The reborn Maybach struggled for sales against the old-world incumbents, Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

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

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

Preservation was part of the conversation when the two connected, but both were also focused on revitalization and augmenting the structure’s old-world charms with something fresh and modern.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

The problem was just that it took forever to translate old-world Farsi into English.

From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi

old-world

Example Sentences

Related Words