Word family noun realism realist reality unreality realization adjective real unreal realistic ≠ unrealistic verb realize adverb real really realistically ≠ unrealistically
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrealistreal‧ist /ˈrɪəlɪst/ ●○○ noun [countable] 1 someone who accepts that things are not always perfect, and deals with problems or difficult situations in a practical way She had always been a realist, not a dreamer.2 a writer, painter etc who shows or describes things, especially unpleasant things, as they really are in lifeExamples from the Corpus
realist• He is himself a realist, not a racist, and not now given to making proclamations.• She is a realist through and through.• He wanted an accountant who was a cheerleader rather than a realist.• The direct realist sees beauty and meaning in the things themselves, to be profoundly or superficially, deeply or shallowly apprehended.• Other realists, such as National Interest editor Owen Harries, expressed similar objections.• The smiling realists are relieved that good old-fashioned national interest may burst out of the straitjacket of Brussels directives.• The realists of the good old times, the Ostades and the Teniers, what a mistake they made without knowing it! 