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

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

realist paintings

Though a number of Dahl's most engaging stories, particularly in his early career, are cast in a realist mode, his reputation is that of a writer of macabre, blackly jocose tales …

—Joyce Carol Oates

Examples of realist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As the world of college athletics turns to Monday’s hearing, a realist may argue that some compromise can be struck. —Matt Rybaltowski, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

Yet, as a realist, someone can’t help but notice the shift in tone and control. —Max (chong) Li, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

Adjective

In taking these steps, Simon argues that Trump’s transactional deal-making exacerbated the chaotic nature of U.S. Middle East policy, which had vacillated between pieties about democracy promotion and realist visions of strategic dominance. —Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2023

Efforts from firms and governments to prioritize AI safety, which emphasizes ethics, transparency and predictability, have been replaced in the Trump era by a starkly realist doctrine of AI security. —Uttara Sivaram, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1853, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing realist

• photo-realist