PhraseFinder

Meaning

First World

The meaning of the phrase

Originally the term referred just to the USA (see origin below), but now is understood to mean the most industrially developed, wealthy and powerful nations of the world. These countries are often referred to loosely as 'The West', although the First World certainly includes Japan and Australia.

First World

What’s the origin of the phrase ‘First World’?

The OED’s earliest citation of this in print is a 1967 edition of the Political Science Quarterly - “Studies which attempt to survey world trends and to characterize the major attributes of the First World (the United States), the Second World (the U.S.S.R.), and the Third World, are courageous undertakings.”

Historical trend

“First World” in printed material over time

Source: Google Books Ngrams (1800–2020).

180018201840186018801900192019401960198020002020
  • First World

Sources

  1. Oxford English Dictionary · cited for the earliest citation in print
  2. Political Science Quarterly, 1967 · the earliest citation the OED gives