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

Trump’s campaign rhetoric painted the world in apocalyptic terms, portraying himself and his team as hard-nosed realists who understood the danger. —Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024

If contemporary art is your thing, don’t miss Blue Spiral 1 for local art like Reuben Negrón’s realist drawings and narrative watercolors. —Jenn Rice, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2024

Adjective

In recent elections, this fatigue may well have translated into a preference for candidates who have embraced a more realist approach to foreign affairs. —Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024

While retaining a sensibility of scrappy, playful creativity, Baker has also matured in his vision to come up with something like a clear-eyed fantasy: a realist fairy tale. —Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024

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