realist

[ ree-uh-list ]

noun

1. a person who tends to view or represent things as they really are.
2. an artist or a writer whose work is characterized by realism.
3. Philosophy. an adherent of realism.

adjective

1. of or relating to realism or to a person who embodies its principles or practices:

   the realist approach to social ills;

   realist paintings.

ˈrealist

/ ˈrɪəlɪst /

noun

1. a person who is aware of and accepts the physical universe, events, etc, as they are; pragmatist
2. an artist or writer who seeks to represent the familiar or typical in real life rather than an idealized, formalized, or romantic interpretation
3. philosophy a person who accepts realism
4. modifier of, relating to, or characteristic of realism or realists in the arts, philosophy, etc

   a realist school

Other Words From

• anti·real·ist noun adjective
• hyper·real·ist noun
• non·real·ist noun
• pro·real·ist adjective noun
• ultra·real·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of realist¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; real ¹ + -ist; compare French réaliste

Example Sentences

As for others still held, Mr Viacorka said: "I dream of the moment my friends and colleagues are released. But I am a realist."

From BBC

I am a realist committed to democracy and the hard work it takes to protect it.

From Salon

The idealist in me wanted to believe Jill could be right, but the realist in me wasn’t convinced.

From Los Angeles Times

Was this a serious movie, or a gag from “30 Rock”? Leading up to Saturday’s premiere, speculation on social media mounted: Would the film, adapted from Rachel Yoder’s magical realist novel of the same name, finally win Adams an Oscar after six fruitless nominations?

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a magical realist fantasy which draws its inspiration from Mozambique’s post-independence civil war, taking the reader through the brutal conflict which raged from 1977 to 1992 when Renamo - then a rebel movement backed by the white-minority regime in South Africa, and Western powers - fought Frelimo.

From BBC