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IRL

American  

  1. in real life (in contrast with communication and interaction online or in a fictional situation).

    I play online video games with people I've never met IRL.
IRL British  

abbreviation

  1. text messaging in real life

  2. Ireland (international car registration)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of IRL

From its use in digital communications

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.

Hudson Williams and his IRL bestie Connor Storrie have secured appearances at the Golden Globes and the 2026 Winter Olympics, where they carried the torch of the ceremony and a brighter era of LGBTQ+ visibility.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026

Everything we need to understand about what happened IRL this year is explained by what happened online.

From Slate • Dec. 28, 2025

I was ready to see a few desert sunsets from the Sightseer Lounge and hear what people say when they have the time to chat with a stranger IRL.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

"International rugby league has never been more competitive and there will be genuine superstars across all groups and stages in this tournament," said IRL chairman Troy Grant.

From Barron's • Nov. 23, 2025

I wanted to ridicule him for using chatspeak IRL, but I found myself lacking the energy.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.