Old World

US: (ōld′wûrld′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

Old′ World′, 

1. Place Names Europe, Asia, and Africa.
2. Place Names See Eastern Hemisphere. 

old-world  (ōld′wûrld′), adj. 

1. of or pertaining to the ancient world or to a former period of history.
2. of or pertaining to the Old World:
   old-world customs.
3. characteristic of the Old World;
   quaint;
   traditional.

• 1705–15

old′-world′ly, adj. 
old′-world′li•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Old World noun

1. that part of the world that was known before the discovery of the Americas, comprising Europe, Asia, and Africa; the eastern hemisphere

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ˈold-ˈworld,  adj. 

1. of or relating to the ancient world or to a former period of history.
2. of or relating to Europe, Asia, Africa, or the eastern half of the globe.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

old-world adjective

1. of or characteristic of former times, esp, in Europe, quaint or traditional