Explanatory Note

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (Amendment No. 177 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) to the registration statement on Form N-1A (the “Registration Statement”) of Vanguard World Fund (the “Trust”) is being filed pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of Rule 485 under the Securities Act solely for the purpose of delaying, until September 29, 2025, the pending effective date of the Trust’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 176.

Post-Effective Amendment No. 176 was filed under Rule 485(b)(1)(iii) on August 12, 2025 for the sole purpose of delaying the effectiveness of the Trust’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 until September 11, 2025.

Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 was filed under Rule 485(a)(2) on May 30, 2025, to register shares of Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF, a new series of the Trust. Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 originally requested that the Amendment become effective August 13, 2025, pursuant to the requirements of Rule 485(a)(1).

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 incorporates by reference the information contained in Parts A and B of Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to the Trust’s Registration Statement, and Part C is filed herewith.

(p)Codes of Ethics, for Schroder Investment Management North America, Inc., filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 171 dated December 21, 2022; Schroder Investment Management North America Limited, filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 172 dated December 22, 2023; and for Jennison Associates LLC, Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd., The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Wellington Management Company LLP, filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 173 dated November 22, 2024, are hereby incorporated by reference.

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

None.

Item 30. Indemnification

The Registrant’s organizational documents contain provisions indemnifying Trustees and officers against liability incurred in their official capacities. Article VII, Section 2 of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that the Registrant may indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to the performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer. Article VI of the By-Laws generally provides that the Registrant shall indemnify its Trustees and officers, and may indemnify its underwriter or affiliated persons, from any liability arising out of their past or present service in that capacity. Among other things, this provision excludes any liability arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or the reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the Trustee’s or officer’s office with the Registrant. In addition, the Registrant maintains liability insurance policies which, under certain circumstances, provides coverage to Trustees and officers.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act) may be permitted for directors, officers, or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisers

Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington Management) is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act). The list required by this Item 31 of officers and partners of Wellington Management, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and partners during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Wellington Management pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-15908).

Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. (Schroders), is an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of Schroders, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Schroders pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-15834).

Schroder Investment Management North America Limited (Schroder Limited), is an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of Schroder Limited, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Schroder Limited pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-37163).

Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd. (Baillie Gifford), is an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of Baillie Gifford, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated by reference to Form ADV filed by Baillie Gifford pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-21051).

Jennison Associates LLC (Jennison), is an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of Jennison, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Jennison pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-5608).

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard), is an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of Vanguard, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant hereby certifies that it meets all requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Valley Forge and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 9th day of September, 2025.

VANGUARD WORLD FUND

BY: /s/ Salim Ramji*

Salim Ramji

Chief Executive Officer, President, and Trustee

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:

*By: /s/ John E. Schadl

John E. Schadl, pursuant to a Power of Attorney filed on February 28, 2025 (see File Number 33-64845), Incorporated by Reference.