Final answer:
The real-world entity to which a word refers is called a 'Referent'. It is the actual object or thing that a word identifies, different from the word itself or the concept it stands for.
Step-by-step explanation:
The real-world entity to which a word refers is called a Referent. Each word in a language serves as a symbol or a signifier, and it is linked to a concept or idea. However, the actual object or thing in the world that a word identifies or points to is known as the referent. For example, the word 'apple' is a signifier and the concept is the fruit category it belongs to, but the referent is the actual physical apple you can hold and eat.