- irl is short for “in real life”. It is often used in an online context when someone describes a situation that actually happens. The internet is full of made-up stories, so when someone says “irl”, this user is indicating that the content is factual and happens in our everyday life and not the digital lives we lead online.
irl(2)
acronym; adverb
in real life.
Etymology : Acronym for “in real life”
Source : “This is an irl story you won’t believe.” (A user on an online forum, 2019)
Last modified: 20 December 2019