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

This milestone marks a significant step for the company in proving the practical value of humanoid robots in real-world logistics. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Nov. 2025

Crockett’s warning that such behavior is becoming normalized reflects broader fears that violent rhetoric—especially when amplified by national figures—can translate into real-world danger. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

According to someone familiar with Project Prometheus’ work, the startup seeks to apply AI to physical tasks, which requires systems that can learn not just from massive amounts of digital data, like LLMs do, but from real-world trial and error. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 18 Nov. 2025

Its Quantum Dot panel with XR Triluminos Max delivers billions of accurate real-world colors, and XR Processor with AI intelligently enhances every scene. —PC Magazine, 18 Nov. 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