the attribute of accepting the facts of life and favoring practicality and literal truth
"Her approach to budgeting reflected a deep realism, as she accepted her limited income and focused on essential needs rather than extravagant dreams."
(philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that physical objects continue to exist when not perceived
"The philosopher argued against idealism by insisting on realism, maintaining that trees remain in existence even when no human is present to see them."
an artistic movement in 19th century France; artists and writers strove for detailed realistic and factual description
"Many painters adopted realism to depict everyday life in 19th-century Paris without idealization."
A concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary.
"The critic praised the novel's realism, noting its gritty depiction of daily struggles rather than fantastical adventures."
In plain English: Realism is the practice of accepting things as they actually are instead of wishing for them to be different.
"The director praised her acting for its perfect realism, since every gesture felt completely true to life."
Usage: In art criticism, distinguish between realism as an artistic movement depicting ordinary subjects without idealization and general usage referring to a practical approach in problem-solving. Avoid confusing this term with "realistic," which describes something that is plausible rather than necessarily factual or unidealized.
Realism is formed by combining the word real with the suffix -ism. It entered English to denote a movement or philosophy focused on representing things as they truly are.