real-life

[ree-uhl-lahyf, reel-]

adjective

1. existing or happening in reality.

   real-life drama.

real life

noun

1. 1. actual human life, as lived by real people, esp contrasted with the lives of fictional or fantasy characters

      miracles don't happen in real life

   2. ( as modifier )

      a real-life mystery

Word History and Origins

Origin of real-life¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Based on the ups and downs of a real-life Neil Diamond tribute act, the movie, directed by Craig Brewer, required charm, realness and vocal firepower to spare.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Rainbow in Ribbons was the title of the book, and the pony show was the centerpiece of the plot, but this sideline business with Albert had captured Penelope’s imagination in a way that made the book strangely difficult to put down, even when her own real-life pupils were climbing out of windows and so forth.

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It was a carefully planned miniature version of a real-life house, with four 5ft-high rooms – two upstairs and two downstairs.

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It is indeed made up of clips from George Clooney movies and could genuinely be shown as part of an actual tribute to the real-life star.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As Stoker’s great grand-nephew, Dacre, detailed in his article for Time, Stoker’s notes contained many entries in which the author attempted to narrow down how it came to be that a real-life man was associated with names that had such devilish connotations.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• actual 
• authentic 
• concrete 
• corporal 
• corporeal 
• honest 
• legitimate 
• physical 
• tangible