realist

1 of 2

noun

re·​al·​ist ˈrē-ə-list 

plural realists

1

: a person who recognizes what is real or possible in a particular situation : one who accepts and deals with things as they really are

a political realist

She considers herself a realist when it comes to parenting.

2

: a person (such as a writer or painter) who adheres to a style of realism by representing things in a way faithful to nature or to real life

Chekhov was essentially more of a realist than Dostoevski, whose force often lay in a strong proclivity to melodrama …

—Roger Shattuck

realist

2 of 2

adjective

1

: in the style of realism : faithful in representation to nature or to real life

realist paintings

2

: realistic, practical

a realist approach to the problem

Examples of realist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The other—sensitive, almost documentary-realist about the dynamics of modern parenting—deals with the fallout, as a community struggles to confront how such a nightmarish failure of safeguarding could have happened. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025

The realist knows that Monday needs to swiftly be proven to be a bizarre anomaly if San Francisco wants to accomplish anything of worth this season. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025

Adjective

For his evocative and wistful romance to yield its intended effect, writer-director Cyril Aris’ biggest ask of the viewer is to surrender to the serendipitous nature of the couple’s connection — a request that is later supported with a concept that expands the film’s magical realist vein. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 4 Dec. 2025

And the breakthrough producer honor was bestowed upon Dhiraj Mahey for his work on the social-realist coming-of-age drama Ish, which was also produced by Bennett McGhee. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing realist

• photo-realist