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

Readers get all the best parts of swoony love story tropes, magical world-building and high-stakes adventure. —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

To date, the SSU has failed to generate the success or world-building Sony hoped for and intended. —Mark Hughes, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

Such deference to character development over world-building — especially considering the series leads the charge into DC’s new universe — is even more endearing than Gunn’s clear compassion for his misunderstood monsters. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2024

Although time consuming and somewhat risky, the approach of creating a new language presented the opportunity for artists to not just evoke the feeling of the show’s world in its music, but add something tangible to its overall lore and world-building. —Cecilia Ciocchetti, Rolling Stone, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above