Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The Western Hemisphere containing the Americas: "New World" refers specifically to the continents of North America and South America, along with their associated islands. This term originated from a European perspective following the voyages of Christopher Columbus, contrasting these lands with the "Old World" of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Usage

• The term "New World" is used in historical, geographical, and biological contexts to describe the Americas.
• It is always capitalized as it is a proper noun referring to a specific place.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Many European explorers set sail to discover riches in the New World.
  • The exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old World and the New World is known as the Columbian Exchange.
  • Tomatoes and potatoes are crops that originated in the New World.

Advanced Usage

• "New World" vs. "the Americas": While often synonymous, "New World" carries a stronger historical and Eurocentric connotation, whereas "the Americas" is a more neutral, modern geographical term.
• In biology, the term is used in classifications like "New World monkeys" (monkeys from Central and South America) versus "Old World monkeys" (from Africa and Asia).

Variants and Related Words

• New Worlder (noun): A rarely used term for an inhabitant of the New World.
• Old World (proper noun): The complementary term referring to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Synonyms

• The Americas: The two continents of North and South America.
• The Western Hemisphere: The half of the Earth that contains the Americas (though this definition can technically include parts of Europe and Africa).

Notes

• The term reflects a specific historical viewpoint. Modern scholarship often uses more precise or neutral terms like "the Americas" to avoid the implied perspective that the lands were "new" only to Europeans, not to their indigenous inhabitants.
• It is commonly found in fixed historical and biological phrases (e.g., New World vultures, New World wine).

Noun

1. the hemisphere that includes North America and South America