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unreality

American  
[uhn-ree-al-i-tee] / ˌʌn riˈæl ɪ ti /

noun

PLURAL

unrealities

  1. lack of reality; quality of being unreal.

    the unreality of dreams.

  2. something that is unreal, invalid, imaginary, or illusory.

    She appeared to be living in a world of unrealities.

  3. incompetence or impracticality, especially in everyday matters.

unreality British  
/ ˌʌnrɪˈælɪtɪ /

noun

  1. the quality or state of being unreal, fanciful, or impractical

  2. something that is unreal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of unreality

First recorded in 1745–55; un- 1 + reality

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There is, though, an anachronistic unreality to all of this.

From Los Angeles Times

The High Court ultimately described some of his submissions as having a "distinct air of unreality".

From BBC

"Mr Bridgen's case as pleaded and evidenced so far does not have an obvious quality of unreality," she said.

From BBC

Impressively, “Grand Tour” illuminates the artificiality of its trappings while honoring them, tapping into our collective acceptance of the “reality” of cinema’s unreality.

From Los Angeles Times

America’s addiction to fable over fact and common sense has brought us closer to the superhero’s unreality, minus the powered-up vigilantes.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.