reality

[ree-al-i-tee]

noun

plural

realities 

1. the state or quality of being real.

2. resemblance to what is real.

3. a real thing or fact.

4. real things, facts, or events taken as a whole; state of affairs.

   the reality of the business world; vacationing to escape reality.

5. Philosophy.

   1. something that exists independently of ideas concerning it.

   2. something that exists independently of all other things and from which all other things derive.

6. something that is real.

7. something that constitutes a real or actual thing, as distinguished from something that is merely apparent.

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a TV program or film that portrays nonactors interacting or competing with each other in real but contrived situations, allegedly without a script.

   a popular reality show; reality TV.

reality

/ rɪˈælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of things as they are or appear to be, rather than as one might wish them to be

2. something that is real

3. the state of being real

4. philosophy

   1. that which exists, independent of human awareness

   2. the totality of facts as they are independent of human awareness of them See also conceptualism Compare appearance

5. actually; in fact

Other Word Forms

• antireality adjective
• nonreality noun
• proreality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reality¹

From the Medieval Latin word reālitās, dating back to 1540–50. See real ¹, -ity

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in reality, in fact or truth; actually.

   brave in appearance, but in reality a coward.

Example Sentences

But as the Yankees sat at their lockers in stunned silence Wednesday night, trying to process the stench of yet another October disappointment, a disquieting reality began to set in.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

There’s wisdom in that advice: Someone might decide to give up their job or sell their house — anything to help them escape their feelings or even reality.

Read more on MarketWatch

“I think my general view is that they are failing to balance perceived criticism on the internet from a very loud minority as opposed to the actual reality.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

It could be time for a reality check.

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“Video games, beyond their content, can favor pathological aggression, withdrawal, escape from reality and reduction of interests,” the study noted.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• existence 
• matter 
• phenomenon 
• real world 
• realism 
• sensibility 
• truth