real-world
adjective
: existing or occurring in reality : drawn from or drawing on actual events or situations : real-life
a real-world example
… the complex relationship between a word and the real-world thing it labels.—
Jean Aitchison
Jean AitchisonDigital objects aren't bound by the same constraints as real-world objects—that is, broadly speaking, the whole point of digital objects—but they're often made to look like real-world objects anyway.—Lev Grossman
Lev Grossman… combine the rigors of academics with the soothing realities of real-world applications.—Ricardo Bilton
Ricardo BiltonThe paintings are essentially abstract, but they don't feel abstract. They feature, besides passages of figurative drawing, a real-world aura …—Peter Schjeldahl
Peter SchjeldahlExamples of real-world in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This combination of speed, precision, and durability marks a significant step toward real-world applications.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
That durability test — putting hair up in a clip, then shaking it out and finding curls still intact — is the kind of real-world detail that separates a genuinely useful product from one that only performs under ideal conditions.
—Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The very real-world Atlas Stationers in the Loop was a dedicated office supply shop for its first 80 years of existence.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
In Florida’s case, the competitive effect strengthened as the program grew, suggesting the real-world advantage may be even larger than what the existing data captures.
—Tommy Schultz, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
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Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
That durability test — putting hair up in a clip, then shaking it out and finding curls still intact — is the kind of real-world detail that separates a genuinely useful product from one that only performs under ideal conditions.
—Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The very real-world Atlas Stationers in the Loop was a dedicated office supply shop for its first 80 years of existence.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
In Florida’s case, the competitive effect strengthened as the program grew, suggesting the real-world advantage may be even larger than what the existing data captures.
—Tommy Schultz, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for real-world
Cite this Entry
“Real-world.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/real-world. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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