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.

There is growing evidence that people are using AI to free up time, not just for screen fun, but real-life activities.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

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

This includes Parker's love interest MJ, played by Holland's real-life partner Zendaya, who is set to reprise her role, and features in the trailer.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

It was inspired by the real-life actions of children, and did not emerge wholly from an adult’s imagination.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

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