adj · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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ŭn-rēl'
/ʌnˈɹi.əl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -iːəl
CMU ARPABET:AH0 N R IY1 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Not real or substantial; having no actual presence in reality; lacking the characteristics of reality.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
very impressive; amazing; unbelievable; incredible; larger or more fantastic than typical of real life.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
Examples
The video includes unreal footage of an eight-metre wave.
I just had an unreal hamburger.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective
Meaning 3
lacking material form or substance; unreal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
as insubstantial as a dream
an insubstantial mirage on the horizon
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: insubstantial, unsubstantial
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective
Meaning 4
contrived by art rather than nature
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
artificial flowers
artificial flavoring
an artificial diamond
artificial fibers
artificial sweeteners
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: artificial
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective
Meaning 5
lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
ghosts and other unreal entities
unreal propaganda serving as news
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: real
6
adjective
Meaning 6
not actually such; being or seeming fanciful or imaginary
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
this conversation is getting more and more unreal
the fantastically unreal world of government bureaucracy
the unreal world of advertising art
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: real(a)
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- Proto-Indo-European *(H)reh1-der. Proto-Indo-European *(H)reh1ís Proto-Italic *reis Classical Latin rēs Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Late Latin reālisder. Old French reelbor. Middle English real English real English unreal From un- + real.
Across languages
Translations
59 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
нерэа́льны
(njereálʹny)
— not real
Belarusian:
несапра́ўдны
(njesapráwdny)
— not real
Bulgarian:
нереа́лен
(nereálen)
— not real
Bulgarian:
недействи́телен
(nedejstvítelen)
— not real
Bulgarian:
въобража́ем
(vǎobražáem)
— not real
Catalan:
irreal
— not real
Chinese Mandarin:
不真實的 /不真实的
(bù zhēnshí de)
— not real