reality

re·al·i·ty

noun \rē-ˈa-lə-tē\

plural re·al·i·ties

Definition of REALITY

1

: the quality or state of being real

2

a (1) : a real event, entity, or state of affairs <his dream became a reality> (2) : the totality of real things and events <trying to escape from reality> b : something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily

3

: television programming that features videos of actual occurrences (as a police chase, stunt, or natural disaster) —often used attributively <reality TV>

— in reality

: in actual fact

Examples of REALITY

1. the difference between fiction and reality
2. The reality is that we can't afford to buy a house.
3. He used television as an escape from reality.
4. They made the plan a reality.

First Known Use of REALITY

1550

Related to REALITY

Synonyms: actuality, case, materiality, fact

Antonyms: fantasy (also phantasy), fiction, illusion

Related Words: certainty, inevitability; circumstance, event, occurrence, phenomenon; element, item, particular, thing

Near Antonyms: eventuality, possibility, potentiality, probability

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with REALITY

anality, banality, brutality, carnality, causality, centrality, extrality, fatality, feudality, finality, formality, frontality, frugality, legality, lethality, locality, mentality, modality, morality, mortality, nasality, natality, neutrality, nodality, orality, plurality, primality, rascality, regality, rurality, sodality, tonality, totality, venality, vitality, vocality