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

• 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

This is the company’s guiding philosophy and aims to reproduce audio just as the artist intended with lifelike realism, emotional depth and spatial precision. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

An intentionally broad category, the genre encompasses and moves between subgenres which are united by their conspicuous lack of realism. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025

In his career to date, the Danish-Norwegian director has often pivoted between realism and moments where irony and the surreal puncture the everyday. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025

The first one takes place in a sort of magical realism. —William Earl, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing realism

• anti-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