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.

Similar to a real-life version of The Truman Show, the setup recorded every moment of each animal's life.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

Many visitors post online about their trip -- making pilgrimages to real-life locations from cartoons or joking about spending $1,000 on flights just so they can eat a $1 convenience store rice ball.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

The show also starred Billy Ray Cyrus, a country music star and Miley's real-life dad, as her father and manager Robbie Ray.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

We learn in an author’s note that “Chase and Finnegan” was inspired by the real-life practice of matching cheetahs in captivity with rescue dogs as companions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

A real-life skunk expert had written to him.

From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold

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