REAL ID

noun

variants or less commonly Real ID

plural REAL IDs also Real IDs

: an identification card or driver's license issued by a U.S. state government in compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that is needed for access to certain federal facilities and for domestic air travel and that requires for issuance the presentation of certain minimum documentation (such as documents proving a person's legal name, date of birth, principal residence, and proof of lawful status in the U.S.)

Examples of REAL ID in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The mobile unit will offer driver’s license and state ID renewals, REAL ID processing, vehicle registration stickers and organ donor registration, according to a news release. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Applications should be submitted 1-7 days before visiting, and a REAL ID or Passport will be needed to accompany your digital Wingmate pass through security. — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

And last year, Real ID requirements were added for the first time. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Aug. 2026

Megan Varner / Getty Images Due to recent regulations, all passengers 18 years old and older must have a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or other identification to get through security checkpoints. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

2005, in the meaning defined above