reality en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ɹiːˈælɪti/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ɹiˈæləti/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(H)reh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *(H)reh₁ís Proto-Italic *reis Classical Latin rēs Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin reālis Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Proto-Italic *-tāts Latin -tās Medieval Latin reālitāslbor. French réalitéder. English reality From French réalité (“quality of being real”), from Middle French realité (“property, possession”), from Medieval Latin reālitās, from Late Latin reālis (“real”), equivalent to real + -ity. Recorded since 1550 as a legal term in the sense of “fixed property” (compare real estate, realty); the sense “real existence” is attested from 1647. First attested in c. 1540.
Meanings
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(uncountable, usually) The state of being actual or real; realness.
The reality of the crash scene on TV dawned upon him only when he saw the victim was no actor but his friend.
While the SCP universe is, of course, filled with things that we would certainly not consider "real", most of the SCPs are tangible or perceivable in some way. There are those concepts, however, whose reality is debatable, even to the SCP Foundation, begging them to ask the question of what, exactly, is real.
2019 January 7, “Exploring the SCP Foundation: Pattern Screamers” (0:11 from the start), in The Exploring Series, archived from the original on 11 Jan 2023:
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(uncountable, usually) The real world.
Does this mean that reality has caught up with science fiction?
2015 August 13, Emmanuel Tsekleves, “Science fiction as fact: how desires drive discoveries”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 18 Jun 2016:As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish,[…]. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get.[…]I do not suppose that it matters much in reality whether laws are made by dukes or cornerboys, but I like, as far as possible, to associate with gentlemen in private life.
1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:A man very often fancies that he understands a critic, when in reality he does not comprehend his meaning.
1712 February 12 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “FRIDAY, February 2, 1711–1712”, in The Spectator, number 291; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
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(uncountable, usually) A real entity, event, or other fact.
But part of me was still glad to see this undoubtedly superficial take. As a society, we barely discuss the realities and implications of singledom. In pop culture singledom is almost invariably represented as an easily fixed unhappy state, a step along the way to getting happily hitched.
2018 September 8, Sonia Sodha, “It’s time to ditch the stereotypes and look at the realities behind singledom”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 09 Nov 2020:A dream, of simple fantasy / That I, wished was reality / That you'd, come knocking at my door / And we'd, relive this dream once more
1983, Debarge, “A Dream”, in In A Special Way:Exploring alternative realities isn't just a game for boys. In 1666, Margaret Cavendish, the Duchess of Newcastle, published a utopian fantasy of compelling strangeness.
2011 May 11, Sam Leith, “Sam Leith's top 10 alternative realities”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 07 Mar 2021:It is time the international community faced the reality: we have an unmanageable, unfair, distortionary global tax regime. It is a tax system that is pivotal in creating the increasing inequality that marks most advanced countries today[…].
2013 June 7, Joseph Stiglitz, “Globalisation is about taxes too”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, archived from the original on 10 Apr 2021, page 19:There are several new realities that this team now needs to accept: our old project is dead, and our new project is now the priority.
Given the economic realities of contemporary Poland, a requirement to provide information on movable assets which exceed PLN 10,000 in value cannot be held to be excessive.
2005 October 25, European Court of Human Rights, Wypych v. Poland, number 2428/05:And to realities yield all her shows.
1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:My neck, Sir, may be an idea to you, but to me it is a reality.
1770, James Beattie, Essay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth:Recent historical studies indicate that we must continue to challenge the notion that there is an unproblematic story of queer liberation. For example, how do local histories account for realities such as the increased racial segregation of the New York bar scene after Stonewall?
1996 September, Doreen Drury, “The Gay Capital of the World”, in Gay Community News, page 22:The ultimate reality of life is that it ends in death.
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(uncountable, usually) The entirety of all that is real.
Across the entire Universe. Never stopping, never faltering, never fading. People and planets and stars will become dust. And the dust will become atoms and the atoms will become... nothing. And the wavelength will continue, breaking through the rift at the heart of the Medusa Cascade into every dimension, every parallel, every single corner of creation. This is my ultimate victory, Doctor! The DESTRUCTION! Of REALITY! ITSELF!
2008 July 5, Russell T Davies, “Journey's End”, in Graeme Harper, director, Doctor Who, season 4 [30], episode 13, spoken by Davros (Julian Bleach):
- (uncountable, usually) An individual observer's own subjective perception of that which is real.
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(obsolete, uncountable, usually) Loyalty; devotion.
To express our reality to the emperor.
1642, Thomas Fuller, The Holy State, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Roger Daniel for John Williams, […], →OCLC:
- (obsolete, uncountable, usually) Realty; real estate.
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(attributive, uncountable, usually) Reality television.
a foray into reality programming
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| realities | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
extended reality · mugged by reality · reality pornography · celebreality · disreality · reality TV · reality warping · reality television · antireality · reality challenged · reality principle · divorced from reality · reality gap · neoreality · reality check · telereality · reality therapy · reality-based · reality testing · dramality · nonreality · cyberreality · hyperreality · reality distortion field · alternate reality game · reality shifter · reality warper · new reality · pseudoreality · bite of the reality sandwich · wikiality · online reality game · reality mining · superreality · reality show · unreality · reality shifting · macroreality · irreality · reality bender · break reality · semireality · in reality · detached from reality
Hyponyms
virtual reality · augmented reality · absolute reality · mixed reality · hybrid reality · consensus reality · real reality
Relateds
realia · realize · realism · realization · realty
Synonyms
Translations (256)
sv verklighet (entirety of all that is real) · nl realiteit (state of being actual or real) · ta மெய் (state of being actual or real) · ga nithiúlacht (state of being actual or real) · eo realeco (state of being actual or real) · ro realitate (an individual observer's subjective perception) · hu valóság (entirety of all that is real) · id realitas (state of being actual or real) · nn realitet (a real entity, event etc.) · be рэа́льнасць (entirety of all that is real) · cu вещьство (state of being actual or real) · sh јава (state of being actual or real) · ba ғәмәл (state of being actual or real) · sl realnost (state of being actual or real) · tk hakykat (state of being actual or real) · af realiteit (an individual observer's subjective perception) · sh стварност (state of being actual or real) · tr realite (state of being actual or real) · lv realitāte (entirety of all that is real) · pl realność (state of being actual or real) · bn হকিকত (state of being actual or real) · hy իրողություն (a real entity, event etc.) · ro realitate (state of being actual or real) · lv īstenība (entirety of all that is real) · eo realo (entirety of all that is real) · id realitas (entirety of all that is real) · hi वास्तविकता (entirety of all that is real) · lv reālība (state of being actual or real) · eo realaĵo (a real entity, event etc.) · fo veruleiki (state of being actual or real) · pl rzeczywistość (an individual observer's subjective perception) · sh stvarnost (state of being actual or real) · nn røynd (entirety of all that is real) · ca realitat (state of being actual or real) · stq Wuddelkhaied (state of being actual or real) · sv realitet (a real entity, event etc.) · nl feitelijkheid (a real entity, event etc.) · ca realitat (a real entity, event etc.) · es realidad (a real entity, event etc.) · be рэчаі́снасьць (state of being actual or real) · ms hakikat (state of being actual or real) · pt realidade (state of being actual or real) · fa-ira حَقیقَت (state of being actual or real) · ga réadúlacht (state of being actual or real) · ota حقیقت (a real entity, event etc.) · fi todellisuus (entirety of all that is real) · be рэчаві́стасьць (state of being actual or real) · ar وَاقِع (entirety of all that is real) · ja 実在 (state of being actual or real) · fr vérité (a real entity, event etc.) · is veruleiki (state of being actual or real) · be рэчаі́снасць (state of being actual or real) · tr gerçeklik (state of being actual or real) · nl realiteit (an individual observer's subjective perception) · ps ريښتيا (state of being actual or real) · uk реа́льність (entirety of all that is real) · acw واقع (state of being actual or real) · ru реа́льность (an individual observer's subjective perception) · is raunveruleiki (state of being actual or real) · sh java (state of being actual or real) · vi hiện thực (state of being actual or real) · pl rzeczywistość (state of being actual or real) · ur حَقِیقَت (state of being actual or real) · la natura (state of being actual or real) · ota كرچك (state of being actual or real) · ota حقیقت (state of being actual or real) · nl de werkelijkheid (entirety of all that is real) · fi todellisuus (a real entity, event etc.) · nl de realiteit (entirety of all that is real) · az gerçəklik (state of being actual or real) · ca realitat (an individual observer's subjective perception) · uz voqelik (state of being actual or real) · az reallıq (state of being actual or real) · el πραγματικότητα (state of being actual or real) · fi tosiasia (a real entity, event etc.) · nn røyndom (entirety of all that is real) · ru действи́тельность (entirety of all that is real) · la veritas (state of being actual or real) · de Wirklichkeit (state of being actual or real) · fy realiteit (state of being actual or real) · tr realite (an individual observer's subjective perception) · prs وَاقِعِیَّت (state of being actual or real) · ms kenyataan (state of being actual or real) · ms kenyataan (entirety of all that is real) · ka სინამდვილე (an individual observer's subjective perception) · id kenyataan (entirety of all that is real) · ms realiti (entirety of all that is real) · ur سَچَّائی (state of being actual or real) · fy werklikheid (state of being actual or real) · frr (Ockholm) wirklihaid (state of being actual or real) · da virkelighed (state of being actual or real) · de Realität (an individual observer's subjective perception) · pl jawa (entirety of all that is real) · ko 실재 (state of being actual or real) · sl resničnost (state of being actual or real) · ml പരമാർത്ഥത (a real entity, event etc.) · lv reālums (state of being actual or real) · lt tikrovė (state of being actual or real) · ps حقيقت (state of being actual or real) · tg хақиқат (state of being actual or real) · th ความเป็นจริง (state of being actual or real) · ka სინამდვილე (entirety of all that is real) · frr (Langenhorn) wörklihaid (state of being actual or real) · ka რეალობა (state of being actual or real) · et tegelikkus (state of being actual or real) · be сапра́ўднасць (state of being actual or real) · uk ява́ (state of being actual or real) · ja 現実 (entirety of all that is real) · el πραγματικότητα (an individual observer's subjective perception) · hi हक़ीक़त (state of being actual or real) · lv realitāte (an individual observer's subjective perception) · kk ақиқат (state of being actual or real) · ba ысынбарлыҡ (entirety of all that is real) · ms realiti (state of being actual or real) · vi thực tế (state of being actual or real) · prs حَقِیقَت (state of being actual or real) · el πραγματικότητα (entirety of all that is real) · ar وَاقِعِيَّة (state of being actual or real) · bg реа́лност (state of being actual or real) · tr hakikat (state of being actual or real) · as দিঠক (state of being actual or real) · frr würtelkhaid (state of being actual or real) · he ממשות (state of being actual or real) · frr würelkhaid (state of being actual or real) · cs skutečnost (entirety of all that is real) · hu realitás (a real entity, event etc.) · ba ысынбарлыҡ (state of being actual or real) · ar حَقِيقَة (state of being actual or real) · bg действи́телност (entirety of all that is real) · tg воқеият (state of being actual or real) · lb Realitéit (state of being actual or real) · frr Würklichhair (state of being actual or real) · be рэа́льнасць (state of being actual or real) · da virkelighed (an individual observer's subjective perception) · et reaalsus (state of being actual or real) · km ការពិត (state of being actual or real) · ka სინამდვილე (state of being actual or real) · ca realitat (entirety of all that is real) · nb virkelighet (entirety of all that is real) · es realidad (entirety of all that is real) · az həqiqət (state of being actual or real) · nl werkelijkheid (state of being actual or real) · hi वास्तविक (a real entity, event etc.) · ur اَصْلِیَت (state of being actual or real) · ru действи́тельность (state of being actual or real) · am እውነት (state of being actual or real) · ky чындык (state of being actual or real) · ko 현실 (state of being actual or real) · cs skutečnost (state of being actual or real) · hi वास्तविकता (state of being actual or real) · hu valódiság (state of being actual or real) · it realtà (state of being actual or real) · pt realidade (entirety of all that is real) · ka რეალობა (a real entity, event etc.) · ms fakta (state of being actual or real) · bg действи́телност (state of being actual or real) · uk я́ва (state of being actual or real) · tt чынбарлык (state of being actual or real) · sk realita (state of being actual or real) · mk стварност (state of being actual or real) · gl realidade (entirety of all that is real) · ru веще́ственность (state of being actual or real) · frr wirklikhait (state of being actual or real) · fi todellisuus (an individual observer's subjective perception) · de Realität (state of being actual or real) · acw حقيقة (state of being actual or real) · frs würrelkkaid (state of being actual or real) · uk реа́льність (state of being actual or real) · nl werkelijkheid (an individual observer's subjective perception) · sq realitet (state of being actual or real) · fr réalité (entirety of all that is real) · mk реалност (state of being actual or real) · uk ді́йсність (state of being actual or real) · cmn 現實 /现实 (entirety of all that is real) · hu tényszerűség (state of being actual or real) · he מְצִיאוּת (state of being actual or real) · yue 實在 /实在 (state of being actual or real) · af realiteit (entirety of all that is real) · da realitet (a real entity, event etc.) · ba ысынбарлыҡ (an individual observer's subjective perception) · nb realitet (a real entity, event etc.) · nl realiteit (a real entity, event etc.) · es realidad (state of being actual or real) · bg реа́лност (entirety of all that is real) · uz reallik (state of being actual or real) · cs realita (state of being actual or real) · tt хакыйкать (state of being actual or real) · sh realnost (state of being actual or real) · ja 現実 (an individual observer's subjective perception) · pt realidade (a real entity, event etc.) · fi olemassaolo (state of being actual or real) · ota كرچك (a real entity, event etc.) · ky акыйкат (state of being actual or real) · be рэчаві́стасць (state of being actual or real) · ja 現実 (state of being actual or real) · be рэчаві́стасць (entirety of all that is real) · bn সাচ্চাই (state of being actual or real) · pl rzeczywistość (entirety of all that is real) · id kenyataan (state of being actual or real) · ka რეალობა (entirety of all that is real) · ba хәҡиҡәт (state of being actual or real) · ka რეალობა (an individual observer's subjective perception) · gl realidade (state of being actual or real) · ko 현실 (entirety of all that is real) · sh реалност (state of being actual or real) · km ការពិត (a real entity, event etc.) · kk шындық (state of being actual or real) · ml യാഥാർത്ഥ്യം (state of being actual or real) · da virkelighed (entirety of all that is real) · es realidad (an individual observer's subjective perception) · pl rzeczywistość (a real entity, event etc.) · fr réalité (state of being actual or real) · sv verklighet (state of being actual or real) · ru явь (state of being actual or real) · cmn 現實 /现实 (state of being actual or real) · hu tény (a real entity, event etc.) · lt realybė (state of being actual or real) · hi यथार्थ (state of being actual or real) · sv realism (state of being actual or real) · be рэа́льнасьць (state of being actual or real) · fy wierheid (state of being actual or real) · sv verklighet (an individual observer's subjective perception) · lo ຄວາມເປັນຈິງ (state of being actual or real) · ps واقعيت (state of being actual or real) · fa-ira واقِعِیَت (state of being actual or real) · ro realitate (a real entity, event etc.) · sc realidade (state of being actual or real) · vi thực tại (state of being actual or real) · la eventus (state of being actual or real) · lv reālība (entirety of all that is real) · ru реа́льность (state of being actual or real) · nn verkelegheit (entirety of all that is real) · hy իրական (entirety of all that is real) · de Realität (a real entity, event etc.) · kk нақтылық (state of being actual or real) · uk спра́вжність (state of being actual or real) · ru реа́льность (entirety of all that is real) · uk ді́йсність (entirety of all that is real) · hy իրականություն (state of being actual or real) · be рэчаі́снасць (entirety of all that is real) · ug رېئاللىق (state of being actual or real) · cmn 實在 /实在 (state of being actual or real) · hi सच्चाई (state of being actual or real) · pt realidade (an individual observer's subjective perception) · nb virkelighet (state of being actual or real) · lv realitāte (state of being actual or real) · sk skutočnosť (state of being actual or real) · ru действи́тельность (an individual observer's subjective perception) · ar وَاقِع (state of being actual or real) · uz haqiqat (state of being actual or real) · ug ھەقىقەت (state of being actual or real) · yi וואָר (entirety of all that is real) · lv īstenība (state of being actual or real) · yue 現實 /现实 (state of being actual or real) · el πραγματικότητα (a real entity, event etc.) · be сапра́ўднасьць (state of being actual or real)