noun
netherworld
noun
1
The afterlife or underworld, especially imagined as a place of punishment.
"The myth describes a hero's journey into the netherworld to rescue a lost soul."
2
A hidden or shadowy underground subculture, such as organized crime.
"The film explores the netherworld of the city's black market."
How to Use Netherworld
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a mythical underworld/afterlife, or a hidden criminal underground in modern usage.
Common pairings
the netherworld of crime
descend into the netherworld
Word Forms
netherworlds plural
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The myth describes a hero's journey into the _____ to rescue a lost soul.
Etymology
From nether ("lower, beneath") + world.