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 adventures of a sea captain based on the real-life Grace O’Malley. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Parks and gardens are woven into every neighborhood; check out the shocking-pink Portland Street micro park spliced between tenements in Yau Ma Tei; Victoria Park in Causeway Bay; and Kowloon Park, which has a lake populated by real-life flamingos. — Lee Cobaj, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026

Loosely inspired by real-life South Korean serial killer cases from the mid-2000s, The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil follows a crime boss who reluctantly teams with a detective to track down the serial killer who attacked him. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026

Creators can use data on trending and bestselling items to handpick products that resonate with their audiences, offering authentic reviews and demonstrations, as well as real-life use cases. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 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