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

Republicans also have accused Fauci of lying about whether his agency funded what’s known as gain of function research — the practice of enhancing a virus in a lab to study its potential real-world impact — at a lab in Wuhan. — Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Much of that video content features Iris Kendall, whom Palma met on Love Island USA season 7 and formed a bond before his exit that led to a real-world romance. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026

Adaptive trial designs and real-world evidence can shorten development timelines, lower costs, and strengthen America’s competitiveness. — David Shulkin, STAT, 29 July 2026

Monowheel patrol robot 1ROLLO is described as the world’s first autonomous monowheel security robot capable of carrying out real-world security patrols. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026

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