unreality

[ uhn-ree-al-i-tee ]

See synonyms for unreality on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural un·re·al·i·ties.

lack of reality; quality of being unreal: the unreality of dreams.
something that is unreal, invalid, imaginary, or illusory: She appeared to be living in a world of unrealities.

incompetence or impracticality, especially in everyday matters.

Origin of unreality

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

Words Nearby unreality

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use unreality in a sentence

The unreality of post-omicron NBA rosters has turned the sport upside-down on a nightly basis.
How Omicron Has Reshaped Sports | Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com) | January 6, 2022 | FiveThirtyEight
He’s the sixth, and the entire prophecy is a sort of failsafe that allows the Machines to keep humans alive in the Matrix so long as they have the potential to reject its unreality.
Everything To Remember About the Matrix Trilogy Before You See The Matrix Resurrections | James Grebey | December 17, 2021 | Time
When NYC Prep premiered, it got a lot of flak for the sheer gall of its unreality.
The Surreal Genius of Bravo’s Rich Kids Docudrama ‘NYC Prep’ | Amy Zimmerman | April 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Like reality television, “Real America” has become the height of unreality.
The Race Is On in Silicon Valley to Escape Real America | James Poulos | November 30, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Adding to the air of unreality, a fair amount of the debate around avoiding a debt ceiling seemed outlandish.
Obama Brinksmanship Puts GOP in Tough Spot on Debt Ceiling | Daniel Gross | January 14, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

Like the elaborately choreographed escape from default, it was a signal moment of Washington unreality, more farce than tragedy.
Washington’s Earthquake Farce | Howard Kurtz | August 24, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
With that kind of unreality, people lose sight of little brains versus adult brains.
Tatum O'Neal Opens Up | Marlow Stern | June 15, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
The sense of unreality which the twenty pounds had roused in Mr. Travers' cautious British mind grew.
The Amazing Interlude | Mary Roberts Rinehart
Even the English grass, bright green in midwinter, only added to the sense of unreality.
The Amazing Interlude | Mary Roberts Rinehart
Climbing out of the train Stanton stood for a second rubbing his eyes at the final abruptness and unreality of it all.
Molly Make-Believe | Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
After long hesitation literature and art finally turned from unreality and convention, and drew inspiration direct from nature.
The Political History of England - Vol. X. | William Hunt
Still hesitating as to our next move, we stand there in the white glare, while a sensation of strange unreality creeps over us.
Gardens of the Caribbees, v. 1/2 | Ida May Hill Starr

British Dictionary definitions for unreality

unreality

/ (ˌʌnrɪˈælɪtɪ) /

noun

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

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