underworld

• Nom désignant soit le milieu criminel, lié à la criminalité organisée, soit, dans un contexte religieux, le monde des morts.

A noun referring to either the criminal class involved in organized crime, or, in religious contexts, the world of the dead.

indénombrable

1. Criminal classB2formal

   The part of society involved in organized crime and illegal activities.

   Pègre

   • The police have been investigating the city's underworld for years.
   • He was a notorious figure in the criminal underworld.
   • The underworld controls much of the illegal trade in the region.

   Synonymesganglandmoborganized crime

2. World of the deadC1formal

   In mythology and religion, the realm or abode of the dead, often located beneath the earth.

   Le monde des morts

   • In Greek mythology, Orpheus traveled to the underworld to retrieve his wife.
   • The ancient Egyptians believed the underworld was a place of judgment.
   • The hero descended into the underworld to confront the spirits of the dead.

   Synonymesabyssafterworldhadeshellinfernonetherworldpit