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

• literalism
• naturalism
• representationalism
• verisimilitude
• verismo

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

The acting is grounded in realism but the writing refuses to keep the characters under lock and key. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025

But Francis gravitated to the realism — even the populism — of a later painter with much less polish. —Jason Farago, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Then realism started to take over, with full-arm pieces that had flow and big compositions. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025

On Friday, first-quarter bank earnings arrived with a dose of realism: JPMorgan Chase (JPM+0.28%), BlackRock (BLK+2.03%), and Morgan Stanley (MS+1.79%) all posted strong results but struck a cautious tone on the economic outlook. —Catherine Baab, Quartz, 13 Apr. 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