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

These aren’t the glamorous real-world assets that grab headlines. —Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

This is the no-judgment, real-world talk that everyone deserves to hear before swiping right in college — or anywhere. —Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025

That’s despite the real-world applications of robots remaining uncertain. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2025

Drest works with more than 260 brands and allows gamers to work with full collections, and add hair and makeup looks created by real-world talents and brands. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 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