real-world

adjective

ˈrē(-ə)l-ˈwər(-ə)ld 

: 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

Digital 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

… combine the rigors of academics with the soothing realities of real-world applications.

—Ricardo Bilton

The paintings are essentially abstract, but they don't feel abstract. They feature, besides passages of figurative drawing, a real-world aura …

—Peter Schjeldahl

Examples of real-world in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Any nuances have real-world implications for how this drug is used, says Manuel Hidalgo, the director of NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Gastrointestinal Cancer Center. —Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 4 June 2026

The game will be released in correlation with the kickoff the real-life FIFA Men’s World Cup on June 11, and will allow users to play as any of the 48 teams in the tournament, play at any of the 16 real-world stadiums, and take control of any of the 1,248 players in the Cup. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 4 June 2026

Hence, Mattel has expanded into real-world experiences such as a Barbie pop-up at Coachella or a traveling Hot Wheels monster truck show. —Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

The game is a simulated, interactive exercise that aims to help people better understand the budget process and explore real-world tradeoffs involved in funding city programs and services. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for real-world

• lifeworld
• unfurled
• curled
• furled
• hurled
• knurled
• swirled
• twirled
• whirled
• whorled
• world
• netherworld