realism
/ˈriːəlɪzəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈriːəlɪzəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm/ (ame, mw)
realism — noun
1. an approach that centres on what is actually true and achievable, steering clear
an approach that centres on what is actually true and achievable, steering clear of wishful thinking or unrealistic hopes.
Rodrigo showed realism when he chose a college program with strong job prospects.
collocation: show/display + realism (practical attitude)
The management team's realism helped them set sales targets that the staff could actually meet.
Eleni admired her aunt's realism in saving money for emergencies instead of spending on luxuries.
A degree of realism is necessary when you draw up a household budget.
The mayor's realism about the town's financial problems earned her respect from voters.
- practicality
focuses on usefulness and efficiency rather than a general worldview
- pragmatism
a more formal term, often associated with a specific philosophical tradition
- level-headedness
emphasises calm judgement and emotional control more than fact-based thinking
文法句型
realism + about + noun phrase
realism + in + gerund clause
用法筆記
Commonly used with verbs like show, display, demonstrate, or call for. Frequently appears in business and political contexts to contrast a hard-headed approach with wishful thinking.
常見錯誤
2. the belief in philosophy and science that objects, events, and the physical worl
the belief in philosophy and science that objects, events, and the physical world exist independently of whether any person is observing or thinking about them.
In philosophy class, the professor explained that realism claims a chair still exists in a room with nobody inside.
Abigail's essay compared idealism with realism by asking whether a falling tree makes a sound if no one hears it.
contrast: realism vs idealism
Aarav struggled to grasp how realism differs from idealism in his first-year metaphysics course.
Many physicists adopt a form of realism, assuming that quarks and electrons are real objects whether measured or not.
- objectivism
stresses that knowledge and truth exist independently of the knower; a broader epistemological position
- materialism
a narrower view that only physical matter is real, whereas realism also accepts non-physical objects
- idealism
the philosophical view that reality is fundamentally mental or constructed by the mind
文法句型
form of realism + that-clause
realism + about + noun phrase
用法筆記
Opposite of idealism in philosophy. Do not confuse this sense with sense 5 (ABSTRACT UNIVERSALS) — sense 2 concerns physical objects and the external world, whereas sense 5 concerns abstract concepts such as 'beauty' or 'justice'.
3. a style of painting, film, or writing that tries to show people and everyday lif
a style of painting, film, or writing that tries to show people and everyday life as they really are, without making them seem more attractive, heroic, or perfect.
The novel is a powerful example of realism, describing factory workers' lives without romanticising them.
example of realism in literature
Bao prefers realism in films, where characters speak and act like ordinary people rather than heroes.
Nineteenth-century French realism focused on everyday scenes such as farm labour and street markets.
A painter of realism, Romi captured the wrinkles on farmers' faces and the mud on their boots.
Lara's art teacher encouraged her to master realism before experimenting with abstract or surreal styles.
- naturalism
a more extreme form of realism that applies scientific determinism to characters
- verisimilitude
the appearance of being true or real; focuses on effect rather than an artistic movement
- idealism
in art, representing things as they ought to be rather than as they are
- abstraction
art that does not attempt to represent external reality accurately
文法句型
[adjective] + realism
school of realism
用法筆記
Often modified by a preceding adjective naming a sub-genre (e.g. magical realism, social realism, kitchen-sink realism). Compare with naturalism, which is a more extreme form that treats characters as products of their environment.
常見錯誤
4. the quality of looking, sounding, or feeling very similar to real life, especial
the quality of looking, sounding, or feeling very similar to real life, especially in a creative work, performance, or imitation.
The realism of the film's special effects made the audience gasp as the building collapsed on screen.
the realism of + [technical element]
Rachid was impressed by the realism of the wax figures at the history museum.
The video game's sound design added greatly to the realism of the thunderstorm scene.
Élise praised the sculpture for its realism, noting the veins on the old fisherman's hands.
- lifelikeness
a simpler, more direct synonym
- authenticity
emphasises truthfulness to a subject rather than visual accuracy
- verisimilitude
more formal and literary; the appearance of being true
- artificiality
the quality of looking fake or manufactured
- stylisation
deliberate simplification or exaggeration of features for artistic effect
文法句型
the realism of + [noun]
added to the realism
用法筆記
Unlike sense 3 (ART & LITERATURE), this sense describes a measurable quality of verisimilitude rather than a named artistic movement. You can say 'the realism of the CGI was impressive' but not 'the CGI was an example of realism' (which would imply movement membership).
常見錯誤
5. the philosophical theory that general ideas or categories — such as 'beauty', 'j
the philosophical theory that general ideas or categories — such as 'beauty', 'justice', or 'redness' — exist as real entities outside of human thought, rather than being merely names or labels that humans invent.
Medieval philosophers debated whether realism about concepts like 'goodness' could be logically defended.
realism about + [abstract philosophical concept]
Sade wrote her thesis on the difference between realism and nominalism in medieval scholastic thought.
contrast: realism vs nominalism
According to philosophical realism, the idea of 'justice' exists as a real thing, not merely a convenient word.
Zayd found the realism debate challenging because it questions whether abstract ideas have an existence of their own.
- Platonism
a specific form of realism about universals derived from Plato's theory of Forms
- nominalism
the view that universal concepts are merely names or labels with no independent reality
文法句型
realism about + [abstract concept]
用法筆記
This is a technical sense within metaphysics, often contrasted with nominalism. Do not confuse with sense 2 (PHILOSOPHICAL EXISTENCE) — sense 2 concerns physical objects, whereas this sense concerns abstract universals like properties and categories. The two philosophies are historically related but logically distinct.