real-life

American

[ree-uhl-lahyf, reel-] / ˈri əlˌlaɪf, ˈril- /

adjective

existing or happening in reality.

real-life drama.

real life British

noun

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

"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 real-life

First recorded in 1830–40

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.

Fairlamb, 54, believes AI has its place in fitness programmes and nutrition, but says it cannot fully replace real-life coaching.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

So says Leslie Fremar, outing herself as the real-life inspiration for Emily, the uptight first assistant to fictional magazine editor Miranda Priestly.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

The result, after four years of development, hit theaters last summer as an Apple and Jerry Bruckheimer-produced, 2½-hour feature—called, appropriately enough, “F1”—that married the pulsating action of “Top Gun” with the real-life universe of F1.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

This study suggests that these methods may overlook the risks posed by combined exposures and real-life environmental conditions.

From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026

After playing real-life Tetris for a while I found a way to get the first battery out of the way enough to let the second battery in.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

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