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

The conversation also explores how young men and women can navigate the modern dating scene, the controversial tradwife movement, and the real-world consequences of casual hookup culture. — Brad Wilcox, Washington Post, 15 July 2026

Black Mirror mostly works in the realm of speculative fiction, but several episodes have a more contemporary, real-world setting. — William Worrall, Space.com, 15 July 2026

The history and tradition doctrine, in contrast, allows the justices to look at real-world practices adopted in the 240 years since. — Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 14 July 2026

LaunchPad delivers mentoring and career development, real-world work experience and access to high-profile companies and executives, along with placement programs encompassing experiential learning sessions, interview training and internships. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 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