Definition

Noun: * The practical matters, interests, and affairs of everyday human life, as opposed to spiritual, religious, or eternal matters. It refers to the material and secular aspects of existence, including work, money, possessions, social status, and daily responsibilities.

Usage

The term "worldly concern" is a formal or literary noun phrase, often used in philosophical, religious, or reflective contexts to contrast secular life with spiritual life. It is typically used in the singular form to refer to the general concept, but can be pluralized ("worldly concerns") to talk about specific, practical matters.

Examples

• The monk renounced all worldly concern to focus on meditation and prayer.
• She was so absorbed in her worldly concerns—her career and finances—that she had little time for reflection.
• The philosophy teaches detachment from worldly concern as a path to inner peace.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used with verbs like renounce, abandon, transcend, or be detached from to emphasize a conscious turning away from material life.
• It can be used in a slightly critical way to imply that someone is overly focused on material or superficial matters.

Variants and Related Words

• Worldly (adjective): Of or concerned with material values or ordinary life rather than a spiritual existence. (e.g., , )
• Secular (adjective): Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis. (e.g., , )
• Temporal (adjective): Relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular. (e.g., , )

Synonyms

• Earthly matter
• Secular affair
• Temporal matter
• Mundane concern

Antonyms

• Spiritual concern
• Religious matter
• Eternal affair
• Otherworldly interest

Noun

1. the concerns of this life as distinguished from heaven and the afterlife
   • they consider the church to be independent of the world