Did you just see a podcast advertise itself as ‘IRL’? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this acronym.
Meaning
The acronym ‘IRL’ stands for ‘In Real Life.’ It’s a tech term and frequently appears in conversations describing tech products and systems. People in the tech industry will use ‘IRL’ to describe events occurring in the real world, not cyberspace.
People will use ‘IRL’ in chats and on message boards when talking about things that happen to them in real life, also known as the ‘meat space.’ If someone texts you something unbelievable and ends it with ‘IRL,’ it means that they’re telling you a version of real events that happened to them.
‘IRL’ is also a popular meme, with users comparing images of tech or fantasy landscapes or products to real life. Many podcasters use the term to describe how their channel discusses events that happen in the real world.
Example Usage
“I watched Tim Pools IRL podcast last night. That guy makes some decent points, but he’s certainly turning into a far-right nut job.”
“I was standing there IRL, and this person just walks up to me and spits in my face. I was so shocked I didn’t know what to do.”
“That’s how we do this IRL, buddy. If you want things done right, you have to do them yourself. Don’t rely on anyone to deliver for you; it’s all on you.”
“This is happening, IRL. I can’t believe we would all comply with this so easily. It seems that society is nothing more than a flock of sheep doing the bidding of their masters.”
“IRL, we were all there on time and ready for action, but no one showed up. We stayed there for the next four hours, and not a soul walked into the building. Do we have the right date?”
“When something like that happens IRL, it’s best to call the police. You don’t know what the person is thinking or what they might do if they feel they have to escape.”
“When we look at how the system operates ‘IRL,’ we find that it’s achieving 99.9% of what the protocol is designed to do.”
“Are you talking about the virtual world or IRL? This conversation is getting confusing, and I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make here.”
Origin
Language experts cannot pinpoint when ‘IRL’ entered the English lexicon or who coined its use. However, some experts believe the term comes from the early 2000s and the rise of gaming culture and text communications.
The earliest entry into the Urban Dictionary was in 2003, which was in the days before smartphones arrived on the market. As a result, people would use abbreviations and acronyms for commonly used phrases to prevent the hassle of typing out the entire meaning.
Phrases Similar to IRL
- The real deal.
- In real time.
- Physical reality.
Phrases Opposite to IRL
- VR (Virtual Reality).
- AR (Augmented Reality).
- The Matrix.
What is the Correct Saying?
- IRL.
- In Real Life.
Ways People May Say IRL Incorrectly
The phrase ‘IRL’ has nothing to do with the country ‘Ireland.’ Some people may use the term to describe situations that happen to them online in the virtual world, but this is incorrect. If something happens to your IRL, it occurs in your physical reality.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase IRL
You can use the acronym ‘IRL’ to describe situations that happen ‘in real life.’ You’ll use the term in online chats and message boards to describe things that happen in your life, not in the virtual world. Typically, gamers and other people terminally online use the term to differentiate between their time in the real world and that spent online.
If something is ‘IRL,’ it means it occurs in your physical reality. You can use the phrase to describe anything from podcasts to occurrences like someone giving you a surprise. Typically, you’ll use the acronym in text-based communications and the complete saying in verbal conversations.