irl

1. Internetnot comparableAlternative letter-case form of IRL.

   It’s as if irritating cookie consent pop-ups are occuring^([sic]) irl.

   2022 October 21, Henry Oliver, “What is happening to London?”, in The Critic Magazine

1. not comparableAlternative letter-case form of IRL.

plural irls

1. Alternative letter-case form of IRL.

1. abbreviationinitialismhobbiesInitialism of Indy Racing League.

1. Internetabbreviationinitialismnot comparableInitialism of in real life (as opposed to online).

   Due to the splendid isolation guaranteed by her social position she had never met a cock IRL and, as there was no Wi-Fi in the palace, she had no opportunity to check the facts.

   2015, Joanna Walsh, Grow a Pair

   2 more examples

   There are the same battles of the sexes, the same conflicts of interests, the same struggles to make friends. This world has the perils as well as the pleasure that you experience in real life or IRL as MUD players call it.

   1995 September 22, Benjamin Woolley, 22 minutes from the start, in The Net, season 2, episode 2

   I’ve recently been trying out Tinder, and while I match with people and even chat with them everything seems to be going well, but whenever I bring up meeting IRL, they are quick to ghost me.

   2015 October 15, “Why is it so hard to go from chatting on Tinder to meeting up in real life?”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: in the flesh, offline

1. not comparableExisting or being such in real life.

   His IRL girlfriend.

   2 more examples

   But as Poppy’s fictional world expanded, Pereira became embroiled in IRL controversy.

   2020 January 10, Aimee Cliff, “Poppy: I Disagree review – online pop-bot embraces IRL nu-metal”, in The Guardian

   […] this "100-percent real soap bar" is "the perfect gift for cilantro lovers and haters alike" […] Chipotle says the now IRL soap stems from a humorous photo the brand shared on Instagram back in August.

   2021 December 2, Mike Pomeranz, “Archived copy”, in foodandwine.com, archived from the original on 12 Mar 2023

plural IRLs

1. InternetAn IRL friend.