: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Starring Ma Li and directed by Andrew Lau, the film tells the real-life story of Zang Jianhe from Qingdao who builds a dumpling empire in Hong Kong after being stranded there in the late 1970s. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 May 2025 Now, popular Chrome alternative, Mozilla’s Firefox has issued an emergency fix for two security vulnerabilities already used in real-life attacks. Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 Lastly, Perry curated a museum show devoted to the band’s impact in this parallel world, placing real-life artifacts, such as notebooks and gig posters, alongside a fake platinum record and sham ad campaigns. Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 19 May 2025 Burton, 54, proposed to Lundstrom, 44, in January, more than one year after finalizing his divorce with ex-wife Sheree Gustin following a real-life soap opera split. Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for real-life

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Real-life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/real-life. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

real-life

adjective
: happening in reality : being like real life

More from Merriam-Webster on real-life

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