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

Runway lengths, locations, and operational characteristics referenced in this article are drawn from analysis compiled by Bristol Groundschool, a pilot-training organisation that documents technically challenging airstrips used in real-world aviation training and operations. —Karina Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026

Although the startup is separate from his dissertation research, the company reflects his broader interest in building secure systems that work in real-world conditions. —IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2026

The cofounders argue the approach yields large gains on complex, real-world tasks that involve many different types of decisions—such as automating computer use or processing enterprise workflows. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026

Its Hadley liquid rocket engines have already flown in hypersonic conditions, validating propulsion performance in real-world scenarios. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 25 Feb. 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