earthly

[urth-lee]

adjective

earthlier, earthliest 

1. of or relating to the earth, especially as opposed to heaven; worldly.

   Synonyms: mortal, temporal, secular
   Antonyms: divine, spiritual

2. possible or conceivable.

   an invention of no earthly use to anyone.

earthly

/ ˈɜːθlɪ /

adjective

1. of or characteristic of the earth as opposed to heaven; material or materialistic; worldly

2. informal,  (usually used with a negative) conceivable or possible; feasible (in such phrases as not an earthly ( chance ), etc)

Other Word Forms

• earthliness noun
• superearthly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of earthly¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English erth(e)ly, Old English eorthlīc. See earth, -ly

Synonym Study

Earthly, terrestrial, worldly, mundane refer to that which is concerned with the earth literally or figuratively. Earthly now almost always implies a contrast to that which is heavenly: earthly pleasures; our earthly home. Terrestrial, from Latin, is the dignified equivalent of earthly, and it applies to the earth as a planet or to the land as opposed to the water: the terrestrial globe; terrestrial areas. Worldly is commonly used in the sense of being devoted to the vanities, cares, advantages, or gains of this present life to the exclusion of spiritual interests or the life to come: worldly success; worldly standards. Mundane, from Latin, is a formal equivalent of worldly and suggests that which is bound to the earth, is not exalted, and therefore is commonplace: mundane pursuits.

Example Sentences

Just over a century later, Teddy Roosevelt said of the vice presidency, “I certainly do not want to hold a position of titular dignity and of no earthly practical importance for four years.”

From Salon

But, on the earthly plane, Brown said that “the more things change, the more they remain the same.”

From Los Angeles Times

A foretelling of last earthly smells, whether for the hunted or the hunter.

From Salon

For those in the New Apostolic Reformation, these flags symbolize the belief that when all earthly authority fails, people have the right to appeal directly to God’s authority to justify resistance.

From Salon

Nor was Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus — José is what we call him in Spanish.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• carnal 
• mundane 
• physical 
• temporal 
• terrestrial 
• worldly