: 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 Piper plays the flagship current affairs program’s real-life booker Sam McAlister, whose tenacity in 2019 is credited with placing Emily Maitlis inside Buckingham Palace opposite the soon-to-be former HRH for an hour of monarchy-shaking, fury-inducing, history-making television. Giles Hattersley, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024 Using research and statistics, experts examine America's history with guns, the real-life impacts of gun violence and what can be done going forward to mitigate the problem. Jessica Gorman, ABC News, 24 Mar. 2024 Elle Fanning may have found her real-life prince in the CEO of Rolling Stone, Gus Wenner. Alexandra Hurtado, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024 Sunday, March 24 Tracker (CBS): Justin Hartley's real-life wife—and fellow actor—Sofia Pernas, guest stars on the hit series (which has already been renewed for a second season) as Billie. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 24 Mar. 2024 But a series of arrests and struggles with substance abuse eventually landed Downey in both movie and real-life jail. Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 24 Mar. 2024 But Jones did play real-life newspaperman A.W. Merrick on HBO’s Deadwood throughout the show’s run from 2004 to 2006. Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2024 Some of the products listed in this article were chosen according to the results of real-life tests carried out by the T+L team while others are personal editor favorites that editors own and love. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024 In April, Walter, who starred as Chessy in the 1998 film The Parent Trap, shared that her real-life twins were born on the same day as Lindsay Lohan's twin characters from the movie. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'real-life.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of real-life was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near real-life

Cite this Entry

“Real-life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/real-life. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

real-life

adjective
: happening in reality : being like real life

More from Merriam-Webster on real-life

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