world-building

noun

world-build·​ing ˈwərl(d)-ˈbil-diŋ 

variants or less commonly world building or worldbuilding

: the creation of a fictional world (especially within the science fiction and fantasy genres) that is believable and consistent within the context of the story

The game pushes the limits of the PS4 graphically and packs so much mythos and backstory into its world-building that at times it feels more like a novel than a video game.

—Patrick Shanley

In my opinion, no one does world-building as well as Kate Elliott. It's subtle … but the world, culture, and societies she creates feel solid. If you think about them when you close the book, you can see how they could work; how the economics could work, how the governing could work, how the cultures formed.

—Michelle West

In postapocalyptic stories, world building typically emphasizes the new reality: new vocabulary to learn, new systems of government to understand, new social norms to parse.

—Shirley Li

It sounds like a lot to take in, but "The Sandman" neatly avoids many genre show pitfalls. While at times its premise and worldbuilding do feel a bit murky, for the most part, it's even less confusing for a layman to get into than other sprawling similar shows such as "Westworld" or "The Witcher."

—Lauren Sarner

Examples of world-building in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The absence of humans enhances the enchanting world-building, allowing Kaža and Zilbalodis to create a timeless landscape where architectural elements transcend any specific historical period. —Robert Lang, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2024

Arcane was met with positive reviews across the board, praised for its storytelling, animation, world-building, and nuanced characterisation. —David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024

Without world-building, information only becomes a can-you-believe-they-actually-did-that fun fact. —Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2024

Television shows based on non-fiction books often struggle with world-building–however, Lisa Taddeo’s New York Times best-selling book Three Women doesn’t have this issue. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 22 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above