Acronym
What does IRL mean?
In real life: the world off the screen, treated as a separate place.
Definition
IRL marks the border the internet invented. Meet IRL, work IRL, be like that IRL. The acronym admits that the chat self may not fit the body. AFK is the session cousin: away from keyboard, back soon. IRL is the other country. With a camera always in the pocket, the border is porous — and the acronym stays useful.
Origin
English from BBS, MUDs and IRC, 1990s.
History
From online games to Tinder and 'see you IRL'.
How it emerged
The virtual needed a name for what it was not.
Usage examples
He is calmer IRL.
We only talked until we set IRL.
Translations
- pt IRL / na vida real
- en IRL
- es IRL / en la vida real
Synonyms
- in real life
- off-screen
- offline
Acronyms
- IRL
Related terms
Questions
What does IRL mean?
In real life. What happens off the internet, or the meeting off-screen.
Opposite of online?
In practice, yes. The line is thinner now than when the acronym was born.
Origin?
English from 1990s online communities.