extended reality

US/ɪksˌtɛndəd ɹiˈæləti/

noun

The technologies augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR).

“Near-synonyms: spatial computing, CPS, cyber-physical system, metaverse”

Similar
spatial computingCPSw:cyber-physical systemmetaverse

Meanings

nounextended reality (countable and uncountable, plural extended realities)

plural extended realities

  1. countableuncountableThe technologies augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR).

    Near-synonyms: spatial computing, CPS, cyber-physical system, metaverse

    3 more examples

    “XR” has been used to describe some sort of visual extension of reality for decades. It has referred to cross reality, and also, extended reality. Wearable computing researcher and inventor Steve Mann has used the phrase “mediated reality” in the past; more recently he has proposed the term “*R”, with an asterisk, to signal all mediated realities. In a white paper published last April, Mann notes that photographer Charles Wyckoff filed a patent for an “XR” film back in the 1960’s, “which allowed people to see nuclear explosions and other phenomena beyond the range of normal human vision.”

    2019 January 5, Lauren Goode, “Get Ready to Hear a Lot More About 'XR'”, in Wired

    Apple could also vault to the forefront of the XR market — a term for extended reality, similar to virtual reality, Mr. Fieldhack said.

    2023 June 5, Kellen Browning, quoting Jeff Fieldhack, “Apple Debuts Its Next Big Product, a Virtual Reality Headset”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

    Still more are selling headsets for “extended reality” (XR), a name that seems to indicate nothing more than a desire to avoid choosing between AR and VR.

    2023 June 6, Ian Bogost, “The Age of Goggles Has Arrived”, in The Atlantic

    Synonyms: spatial computing, CPS, w:cyber-physical system, metaverse

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe technologies augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR).

Similar
spatial computingCPSw:cyber-physical systemmetaverse

Translations

Finnish laajennettu todellisuus
  • laajennettu todellisuusaugmented, virtual, and mixed reality
Polish rzeczywistość rozszerzona
  • rzeczywistość rozszerzonaaugmented, virtual, and mixed reality
Russian расши́ренная реа́льность
  • расши́ренная реа́льность (rasšírennaja reálʹnostʹ)augmented, virtual, and mixed reality
Cite this entry
APA

extended reality. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/extended%20reality

MLA

“extended reality.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/extended%20reality. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “extended reality,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/extended%20reality.

Source: extended reality on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.