Actual vs. Real — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 26, 2024
Actual refers to what is current and factual, emphasizing the present state or conditions, whereas real pertains to the inherent or genuine nature of something, irrespective of appearances or perceptions.
Difference Between Actual and Real
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Actual often denotes the current, factual state of affairs, highlighting what is true at the moment. It is closely associated with the precise conditions or facts without embellishment. On the other hand, real focuses on the inherent or genuine nature of something, suggesting a deeper truth that goes beyond surface appearances or temporary states.
Actual is used to correct or specify information, clarifying what is truly happening as opposed to what might be assumed or expected. For example, the actual cost of a project may differ from the estimated cost. Whereas, real emphasizes authenticity and the essence of being, as in distinguishing between real gold and imitation jewelry, stressing the material’s authenticity.
In discussing events or experiences, actual can pinpoint the exact nature or details of what occurred, often used to dispel myths or inaccuracies. Meanwhile, real can refer to experiences or emotions that are deeply felt and unquestionably genuine, reflecting their intensity or sincerity.
When contrasting hypothetical scenarios or potential outcomes, actual is the term of choice to describe what has indeed happened or been realized. In contrast, real might be used more broadly to discuss concepts or entities that exist independently of human perception, such as in philosophical debates about the real versus the ideal.
The distinction between actual and real can also illuminate discussions in science and philosophy, where actual refers to observable, measurable phenomena, while real might delve into the realm of existence that is consistent regardless of observation or measurement.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Pertaining to the current, factual situation or condition.
Pertaining to the inherent or genuine nature of something.
Emphasis
Precision, current facts.
Authenticity, inherent qualities.
Common Usage
Correcting or specifying information.
Emphasizing authenticity or essence.
Contextual Example
"The actual cost exceeded estimates."
"The real value of the artifact is its historical significance."
Philosophical Use
Observable, measurable phenomena.
Existence or nature independent of human perception.
Compare with Definitions
Actual
Pertaining to the current, factual situation.
The actual performance of the car differed from the advertised one.
Real
Unaffected by perceptions or appearances.
His real intentions became clear later.
Actual
Used to specify or correct.
The actual reason for the delay was bad weather.
Real
Pertaining to the inherent nature of something.
The real charm of the town lies in its people.
Actual
Reflecting precise and existing conditions.
The actual number of attendees was much lower than expected.
Real
Philosophically, existing independently of ideas.
The debate was about the real versus the ideal.
Actual
Denoting what is true now.
The actual temperature is lower than the forecasted one.
Real
Emphasizing sincerity or deep feelings.
The grief was real when they heard the news.
Actual
Relating to practical or real experiences.
The experiment’s actual results were surprising.
Real
Denoting authenticity or genuineness.
They found real gold in the river.
Actual
Existing in fact; real
The estimate was much less than the actual cost
Real
Actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed
Julius Caesar was a real person
Her many illnesses, real and imaginary
Actual
Existing now; current
Using actual income to measure expected income
Real
(of a thing) not imitation or artificial; genuine
The earring was presumably real gold
Actual
Relating to a person's acts or deeds; active, practical
Real
Complete; utter (used for emphasis)
The tour turned out to be a real disaster
Actual
Existing in reality, not just potentially; really acted or acting; occurring in fact.
The actual cost of goods;
The actual case under discussion
The actual government expenses dramatically exceed the budget.
Real
Adjusted for changes in the value of money; assessed by purchasing power
Real incomes had fallen by 30 per cent
An increase in real terms of 11.6 per cent
Actual
In action at the time being; now existing; current.
Real
(of a number or quantity) having no imaginary part.
Actual
Used as intensifier to emphasise a following noun; exact, specific, very.
Real
(of an image) of a kind in which the light that forms it actually passes through it; not virtual.
Actual
An actual, real one; notably:
Real
Really; very
My head hurts real bad
Actual
(finance) something actually received; real receipts, as distinct from estimated ones.
Real
The basic monetary unit of Brazil since 1994, equal to 100 centavos.
Actual
(military) a radio callsign modifier that specifies the commanding officer of the unit or asset denoted by the remainder of the callsign and not the officer's assistant or other designee.
Bravo Six Actual, this is Charlie One. Come in, over. (The radio operator is requesting to speak to the commander of the unit under the call sign "Bravo Six", as opposed to any available member of the unit.)
Real
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verifiable existence
Real objects.
A real illness.
Actual
(uncountable) Reality, usually with the definite article.
Real
True and actual; not imaginary, alleged, or ideal
Real people, not ghosts.
A film based on real life.
Actual
Involving or comprising action; active.
Her walking and other actual performances.
Let your holy and pious intention be actual; that is . . . by a special prayer or action, . . . given to God.
Real
Of or founded on practical matters and concerns
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time.
Actual
Existing in act or reality; really acted or acting; in fact; real; - opposed to potential, possible, virtual, speculative, conceivable, theoretical, or nominal; as, the actual cost of goods; the actual case under discussion.
Real
Genuine and authentic; not artificial or spurious
Real mink.
Real humility.
Actual
In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the actual situation of the country.
Real
Being no less than what is stated; worthy of the name
A real friend.
Actual
Something actually received; real, as distinct from estimated, receipts.
The accounts of revenues supplied . . . were not real receipts: not, in financial language, "actuals," but only Egyptian budget estimates.
Real
Free of pretense, falsehood, or affectation
Tourists hoping for a real experience on the guided tour.
Actual
Presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible;
The predicted temperature and the actual temperature were markedly different
Actual and imagined conditions
Real
Not to be taken lightly; serious
In real trouble.
Actual
Taking place in reality; not pretended or imitated;
We saw the actual wedding on television
Filmed the actual beating
Real
(Philosophy) Existing objectively in the world regardless of subjectivity or conventions of thought or language.
Actual
Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something;
Her actual motive
A literal solitude like a desert
A genuine dilemma
Real
Relating to, being, or having value reckoned by actual purchasing power
Real income.
Real growth.
Actual
Of the nature of fact; having actual existence;
Rocks and trees...the actual world
Actual heroism
The actual things that produced the emotion you experienced
Real
(Physics) Of, relating to, or being an image formed by light rays that converge in space.
Actual
Existing in fact whether with lawful authority or not;
De facto segregation is as real as segration imposed by law
A de facto state of war
Real
(Mathematics) Of, relating to, or being a real number.
Actual
Being or existing at the present moment;
The ship's actual position is 22 miles due south of Key West
Real
(Law) Of or relating to stationary or fixed property, such as buildings or land.
Real
Very
I'm real sorry about that.
Real
A thing or whole having actual existence. Often used with the
Theories beyond the realm of the real.
Real
(Mathematics) A real number.
Real
A silver coin formerly used in Spain and Latin America.
Real
A unit of currency formerly used in Portugal.
Real
See Table at currency.
Real
True, genuine, not merely nominal or apparent.
Real
Genuine, not artificial, counterfeit, or fake.
This is real leather.
Real
Genuine, unfeigned, sincere.
These are real tears!
Real
Actually being, existing, or occurring; not fictitious or imaginary.
A description of real life
Real
That has objective, physical existence.
No one has ever seen a real unicorn.
Real
(economics) Having been adjusted to remove the effects of inflation; measured in purchasing power contrast nominal.
My dad calculated my family's real consumption per month.
What is the real GNP of this polity?
Real
(economics) Relating to the result of the actions of rational agents; relating to neoclassical economic models as opposed to Keynesian models.
Real
Being either a rational number, or the limit of a convergent infinite sequence of rational numbers: being one of a set of numbers with a one-to-one correspondence to the points on a line.
Real
(legal) Relating to immovable tangible property.
Real estate;
Real property
Real
Absolute, complete, utter.
This is a real problem.
Real
(slang) Signifying meritorious qualities or actions especially as regard the enjoyment of life, prowess at sports, or success wooing potential partners.
I'm keeping it real.
Real
Really, very.
When I told him the truth, he got real mad.
Real
A commodity; see realty.
Real
(grammar) One of the three genders that the common gender can be separated into in the Scandinavian languages.
Real
(mathematics) A real number.
Real
(obsolete) A realist.
Real
Former unit of currency of Spain and Spain's colonies.
Real
A coin worth one real.
Real
A unit of currency used in Portugal and its colonies from 1430 until 1911, and in Brazil from 1790 until 1942.
Real
A coin worth one real.
Real
A unit of currency used in Brazil since 1994. Symbol: R$.
Real
A coin worth one real.
Real
A former small Spanish silver coin; also, a denomination of money of account, formerly the unit of the Spanish monetary system.
Real
A realist.
Real
Royal; regal; kingly.
Real
Actually being or existing; not fictitious or imaginary; as, a description of real life.
Whereat I waked, and foundBefore mine eyes all real, as the dreamHad lively shadowed.
Real
True; genuine; not artificial, counterfeit, or factitious; often opposed to ostensible; as, the real reason; real Madeira wine; real ginger.
Whose perfection far excelledHers in all real dignity.
Real
Relating to things, not to persons.
Many are perfect in men's humors that are not greatly capable of the real part of business.
Real
Having an assignable arithmetical or numerical value or meaning; not imaginary.
Real
Pertaining to things fixed, permanent, or immovable, as to lands and tenements; as, real property, in distinction from personal or movable property.
For he that but conceives a crime in thought,Contracts the danger of an actual fault.
Our simple ideas are all real; all agree to the reality of things.
Real
Any rational or irrational number
Real
An old small silver Spanish coin
Real
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory;
Real objects
Real people; not ghosts
A film based on real life
A real illness
Real humility
Life is real! Life is earnest!
Real
No less than what is stated; worthy of the name;
The real reason
Real war
A real friend
A real woman
Meat and potatoes--I call that a real meal
It's time he had a real job
It's no penny-ante job--he's making real money
Real
Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something;
Her actual motive
A literal solitude like a desert
A genuine dilemma
Real
Not synthetic or spurious; of real or natural origin;
Real mink
True gold
Real
Not to be taken lightly;
Statistics demonstrate that poverty and unemployment are very real problems
To the man sleeping regularly in doorways homelessness is real
Real
Possible to be treated as fact;
Tangible evidence
His brief time as Prime Minister brought few real benefits to the poor
Real
Being value measured in terms of purchasing power;
Real prices
Real income
Real wages
Real
Having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary;
The substantial world
A mere dream, neither substantial nor practical
Most ponderous and substantial things
Real
(of property) fixed or immovable;
Real property consists of land and buildings; real estate
Real
Coinciding with reality;
Perceptual error...has a surprising resemblance to veridical perception
Real
Founded on practical matters;
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time
Real
Used as intensifiers; `real' is sometimes used informally for `really'; `rattling' is informal;
She was very gifted
He played very well
A really enjoyable evening
I'm real sorry about it
A rattling good yarn
Common Curiosities
What does actual mean?
Actual refers to what is current and factual, highlighting the present state or conditions without embellishment.
How do actual and real differ in everyday use?
Actual is often used to correct or specify information about current conditions, whereas real emphasizes authenticity or genuineness.
Can something be actual but not real?
Yes, something can be actual (current and factual) without being real (genuine) if it exists in the present but lacks inherent authenticity.
Is the actual cost the same as the real cost?
The actual cost refers to the factual amount at the moment, while the real cost could include hidden or intrinsic values not immediately apparent.
Is real gold the same as actual gold?
Real gold refers to its authenticity as genuine gold, while actual gold could emphasize its physical presence or form at the moment.
What is the difference between actual and real in philosophy?
In philosophy, actual refers to observable phenomena, while real discusses existence beyond human perception or measurement.
How do actual and real values differ?
Actual values are specific and current, while real values reflect the genuine, inherent worth irrespective of external factors.
What makes something real in a philosophical sense?
Something is considered real in philosophy if it has existence or qualities independent of human thoughts or perceptions.
How is real defined?
Real pertains to the inherent or genuine nature of something, focusing on authenticity beyond appearances or perceptions.
Can emotions be actual or real?
Emotions can be described as real when they are genuinely felt, whereas actual might not commonly apply to emotions.
Why is the distinction between actual and real important?
The distinction is crucial for clarity in communication, especially when specifying facts, emphasizing authenticity, or discussing philosophical concepts.
Are actual experiences always real?
Actual experiences are based on factual occurrences, but their realness may depend on the authenticity or depth of individual perception.
Can the actual situation ever change?
Yes, the actual situation can change as it is tied to the current, factual conditions which are subject to change over time.
Does something real have to be observable?
Not necessarily; something real can exist or have qualities that are inherent and genuine, even if not currently observable or understood.
How do actual achievements compare to real achievements?
Actual achievements are those that have been factually accomplished, while real achievements might emphasize their genuine significance or impact.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
