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

Gordon’s novel, in addition to its realism about what people can and can’t get from one another, offers a biting satire of the parasocial-friendship ecosystem of podcasts and social media. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

The goal isn’t realism; the goal is to sharpen skills and build instincts before any of those situations occur in real life. — Demetri Giannikopoulos, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Much of that realism comes down to the clutch pedal having real heft, deliberately mimicking the 33 lb (15 kg) of resistance found on the 599, the last true manual Ferrari ever made. — New Atlas, 10 July 2026

Rocket builders in India, Japan, and Russia have reuse in their roadmaps, with varying degrees of realism. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 10 July 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