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
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
Yu Ji’s work moves from China’s post-Soviet academic legacy toward a humanistic concern rooted in realism.
—
Li Qi, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2026
The fever dream of a sequel that’s also a prequel takes everything good about the first movie and turns it up to 100, happily ignoring any dose of realism in favor of silly, colorful, karaoke-ready fun.
—Rachel Simon, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Enhancing surgical outcomes By combining soft robotics with 3D printing, this research provides a synthetic option to avoid the ethical issues related to animal testing while keeping the physical realism required for medical training.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Director William Friedkin’s film has been lauded for its gritty realism, morally grey (or perhaps outright bankrupt) anti-hero and its revolutionary chase sequences that inspire filmmakers to this day.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for realism
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Li Qi, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2026
The fever dream of a sequel that’s also a prequel takes everything good about the first movie and turns it up to 100, happily ignoring any dose of realism in favor of silly, colorful, karaoke-ready fun.
—Rachel Simon, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Enhancing surgical outcomes By combining soft robotics with 3D printing, this research provides a synthetic option to avoid the ethical issues related to animal testing while keeping the physical realism required for medical training.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Director William Friedkin’s film has been lauded for its gritty realism, morally grey (or perhaps outright bankrupt) anti-hero and its revolutionary chase sequences that inspire filmmakers to this day.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for realism
Cite this Entry
“Realism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realism. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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