Showing results for IRL. Search instead for IDRL.

IRL

American

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

text messaging in real life
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

"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

“The apps are still really useful, but a lot of people these days are looking for that rom-com, IRL meet-cute,” said Davis.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025

“We used to have churches. Now, not a lot of people practice religion in America. Having a community, having an IRL experience is an incredibly valuable thing.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 30, 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