1. a person who accepts and deals with situations as they actually are rather than as they might wish them to be
2. an artist or writer who represents things as they actually appear in real life
Usage: art; literature

Examples

• As a realist, she knew the project would take longer than planned.
• He’s a realist who doesn’t believe in get-rich-quick schemes.
• The realist in me says we should prepare for the worst outcome.
• She approached the budget negotiations as a practical realist.
• The painter was known as a realist who depicted ordinary working people.
• Many realist novels focus on the struggles of everyday life.
• The realist movement rejected romantic idealization of subjects.