das Weltbild, -er

Meaning (in English)

Weltbild means a worldview or overall picture of the world—the way a person, group, or era understands and interprets reality. It can refer to:

1. Philosophical / cultural / ideological worldview: a set of beliefs, values, and assumptions about how the world works (often shaped by religion, politics, science, upbringing, etc.).
2. General “picture of the world” (sometimes more neutral): the prevailing understanding of the world at a given time, e.g., a scientific or historical view of the universe and humanity’s place in it.

Word parts

• Welt = “world”
• Bild = “image, picture” So Weltbild literally means “world-picture”.

German synonyms (depending on context)

• Weltanschauung (very close, often more philosophical)
• Lebensanschauung (life view/outlook)
• Weltansicht (world view; less common)
• Weltverständnis (understanding of the world)
• Vorstellung von der Welt (idea/conception of the world)
• Weltauffassung (conception/interpretation of the world)

German antonyms (where applicable)

There is no single fixed antonym, but possible opposites by meaning include:

• Realitätsferne / weltfremde Vorstellung (unrealistic, detached-from-reality view)
• Orientierungslosigkeit (lack of orientation; no coherent worldview)
• Beliebigkeit (arbitrariness; absence of a consistent framework)

(Antonyms depend strongly on how “Weltbild” is used, since it can be neutral or value-laden.)