realistic

[ ree-uh-lis-tik ]

adjective

1. interested in, concerned with, or based on what is real or practical:

   a realistic estimate of costs; a realistic planner.

   Synonyms: common-sense, sensible, hardheaded, pragmatic

2. pertaining to, characterized by, or given to the representation in literature or art of things as they really are:

   a realistic novel.

3. resembling or simulating real life:

   a duck hunter skilled at making realistic decoys.

4. Philosophy. of or relating to realists or realism.

realistic

/ ˌrɪəˈlɪstɪk /

adjective

1. showing awareness and acceptance of reality
2. practical or pragmatic rather than ideal or moral
3. (of a book, film, etc) depicting or emphasizing what is real and actual rather than abstract or ideal
4. of or relating to philosophical realism

Derived Forms

• ˌrealˈistically, adverb

Other Words From

• real·isti·cal·ly adverb
• anti·real·istic adjective
• anti·real·isti·cal·ly adverb
• hyper·real·istic adjective
• nonre·al·istic adjective
• nonre·al·isti·cal·ly adverb
• over·real·istic adjective
• over·real·isti·cal·ly adverb
• prore·al·istic adjective
• pseudo·real·istic adjective
• quasi-real·istic adjective
• quasi-real·isti·cal·ly adverb
• semi·real·istic adjective
• semi·real·isti·cal·ly adverb
• ultra·real·istic adjective
• unre·al·istic adjective
• unre·al·isti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of realistic¹

First recorded in 1855–60; realist + -ic

Example Sentences

At the moment, more hyper-realistic deepfakes are far more technically challenging and computationally expensive to create.

From MIT Technology Review

It’s been a long time since the search engine market was a realistic place to compete.

From Search Engine Watch

The idea of some sort of economic independence is beyond any realistic hope.

From Ozy

However, in a team sport like baseball, regular practice against left-handed opponents is not a realistic option for most young players.

From FiveThirtyEight

In today’s NBA, there is a clear consensus around which players are contending for the league’s highest individual honor, making it harder to justify a vote for a candidate when he doesn’t have a realistic chance of winning.

From FiveThirtyEight

Maybe Mary is being more realistic about a second marriage—but is it too much to ask for a little fire?

From The Daily Beast

Just a month from that date, he now no longer believes that to be realistic, and will no longer estimate a timeline for the trial.

From The Daily Beast

“I just wanted to make it realistic and not glamorize life,” she said.

From The Daily Beast

Tiger Lily and her tribe, however, were outfitted in semi-realistic outfits (read: nearly naked).

From The Daily Beast

John came to see The Realistic Joneses and we went out to dinner after and talked casually about the show, but that was it.

From The Daily Beast

Kielland's method is realistic, and a number of his works are written with a fairly distinct "purpose."

From Project Gutenberg

One of the twins, deciding to play "savages," had pounced upon the ink bottle as a means of making the play more realistic!

From Project Gutenberg

As much as possible he banished from poetry a too realistic imitation of eloquence, passion, and a too exact truth.

From Project Gutenberg

The kind of criticism that is appropriate for realistic literature is here quite out of place.

From Project Gutenberg

Tootles had progressed along the arduous road to masterpieces to the extent that he felt a need of realistic detail.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• businesslike
• down-to-earth
• practical
• pragmatic
• prudent
• rational
• real
• reasonable
• sane
• sensible
• sober