Definition of: realism

(rē′əl·iz′əm) noun
1. In literature and art, the principle of depicting persons and scenes as they exist, without any attempt at idealization.
2. The tendency to be concerned solely with reality, as opposed to ideals; specifically, the tendency to think and act in the light of actuality, disregarding idealistic motives.
3. Philos. a The doctrine that universals (abstract concepts) have objective existence and are more real than things: opposed to nominalism. Compare CONCEPTUALISM. b The doctrine that things have reality apart from the conscious perception of them: opposed to idealism.
—re′al·is′tic adjective
—re′al·is′ti·cal·ly adverb