What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
irreality
Example
The movie created a sense of irreality with its fantastical plot and special effects. [irreality: noun]
Example
After the accident, she felt a sense of irreality as if she was watching everything from a distance. [irreality: noun]
unreality
Example
The story was so unbelievable that it had an air of unreality to it. [unreality: noun]
Example
He experienced a sense of unreality after the sudden loss of his job. [unreality: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unreality is more commonly used than irreality in everyday language. Unreality is a more versatile term that covers a wider range of contexts, while irreality is less common and more specific in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between irreality and unreality?
Both irreality and unreality are formal words that are more likely to be used in academic or literary contexts than in everyday conversation.
