worldly wiseman

noun

worldly wise·​man

-ˈwīzˌman,

-mən

often capitalized both Ws

: one wise in the ways of the world

a worldly wiseman among idealists

—R. M. Lovett

Word History

Etymology

worldly-wise + man

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!