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.

He was, in fact, a real-life character from early American history, thought—wishfully, by some—to be the first free Muslim to set foot in the New World.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

He said he “saw a gap of people seemingly needing more transparency around money, and wanting a real-life version of someone trying to figure things out as they went.”

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

It feels, more than ever, like a real-life space.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Meanwhile, Narges Rashidi, who was born in Iran, won best leading actress for playing Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in BBC One's real-life drama Prisoner 951.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

They wanted their students to hear our real-life success story.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

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