Meaning & use
worldview
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Meanings
nouncountable
The complete set of beliefs and values through which a person or group understands life and the world.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a worldview' or 'worldviews' when talking about different sets of beliefs.
Patterns
- someone's worldview
- a worldview based on something
- shape someone's worldview
Her worldview was shaped by years of living abroad.
The two politicians have completely different worldviews.
Science and religion offer different worldviews for many people.
nouncountable
A particular way of thinking about a subject or area of life.
Grammar: Often used with a modifying phrase: 'a business worldview', 'a scientific worldview'.
Patterns
- a scientific worldview
- a business worldview
- from a ... worldview
The book presents a Buddhist worldview of nature.
From a business worldview, the decision made perfect sense.
Word forms
| plural | worldviews |
|---|
Common combinations
- shape a worldview
- Travel can shape your worldview in unexpected ways.
- a shared worldview
- The group members have a shared worldview and similar goals.
- a religious worldview
- His religious worldview influences how he treats others.
- a political worldview
- Her political worldview is more liberal than her parents'.
- a worldview based on
- They have a worldview based on fairness and equality.
Synonyms and how they differ
- outlook
- Outlook is often narrower and more about your attitude to the future than your whole system of beliefs.
- perspective
- Perspective is a particular point of view, often on one issue, not a complete set of beliefs about reality.
- philosophy
- Philosophy can mean a set of beliefs, but it often suggests a formal or studied system, while worldview is broader and more personal.
Word family
Commonly confused: worldview or world view?
worldview vs world view
Some people write it as two words, but the standard spelling today is one word: worldview.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'worldview' correctly.
Choose one answer.
A worldview is a broad set of beliefs about life, so it can be shaped by early experiences. Option An is wrong because 'worldview' is not used for a single opinion about a job; option C confuses it with a business goal; option D uses it as a verb, which it is not.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “worldview”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.