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

While the storylines and characters are fictional, they are inspired by real-world experiences and observations. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 12 July 2024

Camp kids are given real-world responsibilities that are taken seriously. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 July 2024

The list is also based on survey responses that capture the real-world experiences of those living in each place. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2024

So, our team set out to find the best through extensive research and real-world testing. —Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 11 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above