IRL

American  

1. in real life (in contrast with communication and interaction online or in a fictional situation).

   I play online video games with people I've never met IRL.

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IRL British  

abbreviation

1. text messaging in real life

2. Ireland (international car registration)

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Etymology

Origin of IRL

From its use in digital communications

Example Sentences

Attendees could also check out who else was single in the audience using the Next Fun Thing’s dating app, which facilitates meeting people IRL at the event company’s activities, from speed dating to kickball.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

For the first time in a long time, IRL is winning out over AI, at least for the stock market.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

Hudson Williams and his IRL bestie Connor Storrie have secured appearances at the Golden Globes and the 2026 Winter Olympics, where they carried the torch of the ceremony and a brighter era of LGBTQ+ visibility.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026

“We used to have churches. Now, not a lot of people practice religion in America. Having a community, having an IRL experience is an incredibly valuable thing.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 30, 2025

I wanted to ridicule him for using chatspeak IRL, but I found myself lacking the energy.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green