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.

The semi-fictionalised film is based on real-life post-war table tennis star Marty Reisman.

From BBC

"I'm trying to save my life," Dane told Time magazine in remarks published less than a fortnight ago, as the on-screen surgeon turned real-life campaigner was named one of its most 100 influential people in health.

From BBC

Peer-reviewed research and VA data show that disability compensation is directly linked to real-life stability for veterans with mental health conditions.

From Slate

But they also hold up a reassuring mirror, helping make real-life fears seem somehow less frightening.

From Barron's

The Condor’s real-life counterparts included Sherman Kent and William Langer, historians at Yale and Harvard, respectively, and Max Millikan, an MIT economist.

From The Wall Street Journal

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