real-world
adjective
: existing or occurring in reality : drawn from or drawing on actual events or situations : real-life
a real-world example
… the complex relationship between a word and the real-world thing it labels.—Jean Aitchison
Digital objects aren't bound by the same constraints as real-world objects—that is, broadly speaking, the whole point of digital objects—but they're often made to look like real-world objects anyway.—Lev Grossman
… combine the rigors of academics with the soothing realities of real-world applications.—Ricardo Bilton
The paintings are essentially abstract, but they don't feel abstract. They feature, besides passages of figurative drawing, a real-world aura …—Peter Schjeldahl
Cite this Entry
“Real-world.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/real-world. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
