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

Sora launched publicly in late 2024 and quickly drew attention for its realism. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026

Yet the film also exits on a note of extreme sublimity, courtesy of a final-shot callback puncturing the realism that’s defined Late Shift up to that point. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026

Developed by Laerdal Medical, the high-fidelity mannequin was designed to recreate real childbirth conditions with startling realism. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026

The realism, though, comes in the particularity of the Spanish dialogue, the cultural exchanges, and colloquial understandings that run through this community — and from Mexico to the United States. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 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