real-life

adjective

ˈrē(-ə)l-ˈlīf 

: existing or occurring in reality : drawn from or drawing on actual events or situations

real-life problems

real-life drama

Examples of real-life in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The real-life couple had (unsurprisingly) fantastic chemistry and comedic timing that made the show electric then and now. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Highlighting these real-life impacts through marketing, PR and advertising can help build emotional connections, generate positive endorsements, strengthen brand recognition and increase donor and community support. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Also woven into the story is Lim Bo Seng, the real-life resistance leader who serves as a mentor figure to Kai, and Takeshi Inoue, a Japanese officer drawn with deliberate moral complexity. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 June 2026

Baby Reindeer activated its audience so intensely that creator Richard Gadd had to beg viewers to stop looking for the real-life people behind his characters. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 27 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for real-life

• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife
• afterlife
• pocketknife

Kids Definition

real-life

adjective

: happening in reality : being like real life