- The term is most frequently used in Internet text messaging and is used to distinguish experiences that occur in reality as opposed to those that occur vicariously or in fiction. Although the acronym itself has not yet been popularized into the mainstream, it is similar to other acronyms in that the rapid advance of technology is an underlying force that drives its usage.
IRL
acronym for "in real life"; abbreviation
short for "in real life"
Etymology : Acronym that stands for the phrase "in real life"
Source : "fictional experiences differ not much from IRL experiences" Conversation with a friend, 11/1/11
Last modified: 5 December 2011