realism

noun

re·​al·​ism ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm 

1

: concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary

2

a

: a doctrine that universals exist outside the mind

specifically : the conception that an abstract term names an independent and unitary reality

b

: a theory that objects of sense perception or cognition exist independently of the mind compare nominalism

3

: the theory or practice of fidelity in art and literature to nature or to real life and to accurate representation without idealization

Synonyms of realism

• naturalism
• verisimilitude

Examples of realism in a Sentence

He has a sense of realism about what can be done to improve the economy.

The realism of her dream was alarming.

the stark realism of the play

Recent Examples on the Web

Lots of people don’t realize how much stylistic variety Wilson baked into his ten major plays, some of which are written in the mode of realism, others more akin to Greek tragedy. —Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026

Lots of people don’t realize how much stylistic variety Wilson baked into his 10 major plays, some of which are written in the mode of realism, others more akin to Greek tragedy. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026

Technology has replaced the medium’s material substrate—once photochemical, now primarily electronic—and repeatedly modified its syntax, its narrative codes, its standards of realism. —Dennis Lim, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026

The Library of Flowers is Chu's magical realism debut. —Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing realism

• anti-realism
• magical realism
• magic realism
• photo-realism
• socialist realism

Kids Definition

realism

noun

re·​al·​ism ˈrē-ə-ˌliz-əm 

ˈri-ə-

1

: willingness to face facts and to give in to what is necessary

2

: the showing of things as they really are in art, literature, and theater

realist

-ləst 

adjective or noun