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 project advances from lab to real-world scale with real heavy-duty trucks and buses using the infrastructure in everyday conditions. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025

By considering the varied needs of different users, Ausom designs its scooters to adapt to a range of real-world scenarios—whether for daily commuting, longer-distance travel, or occasional recreational use. —Matt Emma, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025

Moderated by Tori Douglas Magnolini, the next discussion featured Erin Goldson, Kara Brothers, and Kenya Eldridge, who dropped real-world gems on navigating dual careers, protecting your peace, and redefining success on your own terms. —Larry Stansbury, Essence, 24 Oct. 2025

That means official inflation readings may be smoother than the real-world volatility consumers experience, particularly for categories where local price swings or shortages matter most, such as in beef prices. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025

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