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Definition of realism noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

realism

noun
 
/ˈriːəlɪzəm/,
 
/ˈrɪəlɪzəm/
 
/ˈriːəlɪzəm/
[uncountable]
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  1. a way of seeing, accepting and dealing with situations as they really are without being influenced by your emotions or false hopes
    • There was a new mood of realism among the leaders at the peace talks.
    Extra Examples
    • I hate to inject a note of realism, but we don't have any money to do any of this.
    • They should temper their enthusiasm with a healthy dose of realism.
    • the band's realism about their chances of success
    • Nowadays their political vision is tempered with a degree of realism.
    • The programme needs to be based on common sense and realism.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • political
    • gritty
    • stark
    … of realism
    • degree
    • level
    • dose
    verb + realism
    • add
    • bring
    • lend
    preposition
    • realism  about
    • realism  in
    phrases
    • a sense of realism
    See full entry
  2. (of novels, paintings, films/movies, etc.) the quality of being very like real life
    • the gritty realism of the new drama serial
    Extra Examples
    • the stark realism of Loach's films
    • a complex novel of psychological realism
    • Clever lighting and sound effects brought greater realism to the play.
    • The computer animation offers an unprecedented level of realism.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • political
    • gritty
    • stark
    … of realism
    • degree
    • level
    • dose
    verb + realism
    • add
    • bring
    • lend
    preposition
    • realism  about
    • realism  in
    phrases
    • a sense of realism
    See full entry
  3. (also Realism)
    a style in art or literature that shows things and people as they are in real life
    • realism in Dutch art
    • the Soviet adoption of socialist realism in art
    see also magic realism, socialist realismTopics Artc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • political
    • gritty
    • stark
    … of realism
    • degree
    • level
    • dose
    verb + realism
    • add
    • bring
    • lend
    preposition
    • realism  about
    • realism  in
    phrases
    • a sense of realism
    See full entry
  4. compare idealism, romanticism
See realism in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee realism in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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