Reality Comes From the Latin for Thing
Reality is the state of things as they actually are. The word is built on res, thing, which also gives us real estate.
Reality is what actually exists, as opposed to what is imagined or claimed. The root is Latin *res*, a thing — real things, hence reality. The same *res* is behind *real estate*, which is property in things rather than in money, and behind *republic*, from *res publica*, the public thing.
- The state of things as they are. *Face reality.*
- Something that exists. *A harsh reality.*
- Reality television. *A reality show.*
- Reality check — a return to the facts. *That was a reality check.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | reality | Grim reality. |
| Plural | realities | Economic realities. |
| Adjective | real | A real problem. |
| Adverb | really | Really cold. |
| Verb | realise | Realise the truth. |
How it is used in a sentence
- In reality, the change was minimal.Introducing the true state of affairs.
- The realities of the job soon showed.Plural for facts of a situation.
- Virtual reality is now cheap enough for homes.A compound from the 1980s.
The thing family
- Real — actually existing
- Real estate — property in land and buildings
- Republic — from *res publica*, the public thing
- Rebus — a puzzle using pictures, from Latin for by things
- Realise — to understand, or to make real
From Medieval Latin *realitas*, from *realis*, actual, from Latin *res*, a thing or matter. The philosophical sense came first in English, the everyday one later.
Why is property called real estate?
Because real here means relating to things, specifically immovable things such as land and buildings, as opposed to personal property.
Reality or realism?
Reality is how things are. Realism is an attitude or an artistic style that tries to represent them accurately.