realism

C1 Topic:Literature & Storytelling

US /ˈɹi.əlɪzəm/ See IPA manual

Freq #20946

Meanings

1

noun
A practical attitude that accepts the facts of a situation as they really are.

His realism about the company's finances kept the team from making risky promises.
2

noun
A style in art or literature that shows life truthfully and in everyday detail.

The novel is admired for its gritty realism in describing factory life.
3

noun
In philosophy, the view that a real world exists independently of how we observe or think about it.

The debate between realism and idealism has occupied philosophers for centuries.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a practical attitude that... pragmatism

2 noun · a style in art or... naturalism

Opposites

antirealismnominalism

Word family

Forms realisms

Derived forms antirealismeurorealismhyperrealisminfrarealismislamorealismmacrorealismmetarealismnonrealismoverrealismphoto-realismphotorealismpseudorealism

Related forms idealismuniversalism

Appears in

Etymology

From real + -ism.

Topics

Literature & Storytelling Philosophy & Reasoning Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# realism

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɹi.əlɪzəm/
**Frequency rank:** 20946

## Meanings
1. A practical attitude that accepts the facts of a situation as they really are.
2. A style in art or literature that shows life truthfully and in everyday detail.
3. In philosophy, the view that a real world exists independently of how we observe or think about it.

## Examples
- His realism about the company's finances kept the team from making risky promises.
- The novel is admired for its gritty realism in describing factory life.
- The debate between realism and idealism has occupied philosophers for centuries.

## Antonyms
- antirealism
- nominalism

## Derived Forms
- antirealism
- eurorealism
- hyperrealism
- infrarealism
- islamorealism
- macrorealism
- metarealism
- nonrealism
- overrealism
- photo-realism
- photorealism
- pseudorealism

## Related Forms
- idealism
- universalism

## Roots and Affixes
- Affix: -ism - doctrine

## Etymology
From real + -ism.

## AI Etymology
Realism is from real + -ism. In present-day use, it can mean a practical attitude that accepts the facts of a situation as they really are, or a style in art or literature that shows life truthfully and in everyday detail. Derived formations include antirealism, eurorealism, hyperrealism, infrarealism, and islamorealism.

## Topics
- Literature & Storytelling
- Philosophy & Reasoning
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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realism

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