the real deal

noun

informal
: something or someone that is real or genuine : a thing or person that is not a copy or imitation
These diamonds aren't fake. They're the real deal.
That guy looked so much like Elvis, I almost thought he was the real deal.

Examples of the real deal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Leather can be pricey, but this faux fabric looks like the real deal and practically molds to your figure. Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2026 The little boy who accepted Bad Bunny’s Grammy during the Super Bowl LX halftime show was not the 5-year-old detained by ICE, as many social media onlookers thought — but the wedding Lady Gaga sang at was the real deal. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026 Bates said that while the show is reality TV, her experience and her close connection to God are the real deal. Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 3 Feb. 2026 These flameless candles give you all the cozy ambiance of the real deal, without smoke or safety concerns. Jamie Fischer, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the real deal

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Cite this Entry

“The real deal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20real%20deal. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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