Synonyms

real world

American

[ree-uhl, reel] / ˈri əl, ril /

noun

the realm of practical or actual experience, as opposed to the abstract, theoretical, or idealized sphere of the classroom, laboratory, etc..

recent college graduates looking for jobs in the real world of rising unemployment.

Other Word Forms

real-world adjective

Etymology

Origin of real world

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That just tells you that the skills that I acquired from freestyling and battle rap, I was able to take into the real world and apply it in so many different places.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Robert Sternberg, a professor of psychology at Cornell University, told AFP that IQ tests get "glorified" but are only "moderately" useful in predicting real world outcomes.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

For example, statements like "AI needs to understand the real world" can imply expectations tied to human reasoning, ethics, or awareness.

From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 2026

The fake world has subsumed the real world, eradicating it and leaving nothing in its place.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

“Sorry, but I don’t live in a fairy tale. I live in the real world, where people solve their...”

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023