real world

American

[ree-uhl, reel] / ˈri əl, ril /

noun

the realm of practical or actual experience, as opposed to the abstract, theoretical, or idealized sphere of the classroom, laboratory, etc..

recent college graduates looking for jobs in the real world of rising unemployment.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

real-world

adjective

Etymology

Origin of real world

First recorded in 1960–65

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.

Perhaps the biggest challenge, and one faced by all companies building humanoid robots, is developing artificial intelligence that can operate in the real world and cope with unpredictable and complicated situations.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

China has more than 40 state-owned robot data-collection facilities where hundreds of on-site humans mimic train bots how to move in the real world.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

WSJ: Besides debunkbot.com, are there other ways debunkbots can intervene in the real world if people aren’t participating in a study?

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

In real world terms, the researchers estimated that the program prevented about three cases of type 2 diabetes for every 100 participants.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

It didn’t even feel like I was in the real world, man.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

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