Real vs. Reality — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on December 29, 2023
"Real" is an adjective describing something that actually exists or is true, while "Reality" is a noun referring to the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to how they may appear or be imagined.
Difference Between Real and Reality
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Real is an adjective used to describe the genuine nature or authenticity of something. Reality is a noun that denotes the actual existence of things, the world, or experiences as they are.
Real is used to qualify objects, feelings, or experiences, emphasizing their truth or existence. Reality refers to the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system or context.
Real often relates to the perception or acknowledgment of authenticity. Reality encompasses the broader concept of existence, including all real phenomena and entities.
The use of real can be subjective, varying based on individual perception. Reality suggests an objective state of things as they are, regardless of perceptions or beliefs.
Real is used to describe qualities, like real gold, real fear, or real happiness. Reality is used to discuss the nature of existence or truth, like escaping reality or facing reality.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective
Noun
Usage
Describes authenticity or existence
Refers to the state of actual existence
Context
Subjective perception or quality
Objective existence or condition
Examples
Real emotions, real gold
The reality of life, virtual reality
Significance
Qualitative assessment
Conceptual understanding of existence
Compare with Definitions
Real
Existing or happening as fact; actual.
The threat was very real.
Reality
The state of things as they actually exist.
Reality was different from what she had imagined.
Real
Sincere and authentic in nature.
His concern for others is real.
Reality
A real situation or actual life as opposed to fantasies or dreams.
He needed to face reality and deal with his problems.
Real
Genuine and authentic, not imitation.
She wore a necklace made of real diamonds.
Reality
The quality of being real or true.
Virtual reality can seem very close to actual reality.
Real
Tangible and concrete, not imaginary.
The movie was based on real events.
Reality
The totality of real things and events.
Understanding reality is a complex task.
Real
Legitimate or true to its nature.
Their friendship was real, not just superficial.
Reality
The actual existence or state of affairs.
Her perception of reality was distorted by her beliefs.
Real
Actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed
Julius Caesar was a real person
Her many illnesses, real and imaginary
Reality
Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence.
Real
(of a thing) not imitation or artificial; genuine
The earring was presumably real gold
Reality
The state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them
Laura was losing touch with reality
He refuses to face reality
Real
Complete; utter (used for emphasis)
The tour turned out to be a real disaster
Reality
The state or quality of having existence or substance
Youth, when death has no reality
Real
Adjusted for changes in the value of money; assessed by purchasing power
Real incomes had fallen by 30 per cent
An increase in real terms of 11.6 per cent
Reality
The quality or state of being actual or true.
Real
(of a number or quantity) having no imaginary part.
Reality
One, such as a person, an entity, or an event, that is actual
"the weight of history and political realities" (Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.).
Real
(of an image) of a kind in which the light that forms it actually passes through it; not virtual.
Reality
The totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence.
Real
Really; very
My head hurts real bad
Reality
That which exists objectively and in fact
Your observations do not seem to be about reality.
Real
The basic monetary unit of Brazil since 1994, equal to 100 centavos.
Reality
Relating to or being a genre of television or film in which a storyline is created by editing footage of people interacting or competing with one another in unscripted, unrehearsed situations.
Real
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verifiable existence
Real objects.
A real illness.
Reality
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.
Real
True and actual; not imaginary, alleged, or ideal
Real people, not ghosts.
A film based on real life.
Reality
The real world.
Real
Of or founded on practical matters and concerns
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time.
Reality
A real entity, event, or other fact.
The ultimate reality of life is that it ends in death.
Real
Genuine and authentic; not artificial or spurious
Real mink.
Real humility.
Reality
The entirety of all that is real.
Real
Being no less than what is stated; worthy of the name
A real friend.
Reality
An individual observer's own subjective perception of that which is real.
Real
Free of pretense, falsehood, or affectation
Tourists hoping for a real experience on the guided tour.
Reality
(obsolete) loyalty; devotion.
Real
Not to be taken lightly; serious
In real trouble.
Reality
; real estate.
Real
(Philosophy) Existing objectively in the world regardless of subjectivity or conventions of thought or language.
Reality
The state or quality of being real; actual being or existence of anything, in distinction from mere appearance; fact.
A man fancies that he understands a critic, when in reality he does not comprehend his meaning.
Real
Relating to, being, or having value reckoned by actual purchasing power
Real income.
Real growth.
Reality
That which is real; an actual existence; that which is not imagination, fiction, or pretense; that which has objective existence, and is not merely an idea.
And to realities yield all her shows.
My neck may be an idea to you, but it is a reality to me.
Real
(Physics) Of, relating to, or being an image formed by light rays that converge in space.
Reality
Loyalty; devotion.
To express our reality to the emperor.
Real
(Mathematics) Of, relating to, or being a real number.
Reality
See 2d Realty, 2.
Real
(Law) Of or relating to stationary or fixed property, such as buildings or land.
Reality
All of your experiences that determine how things appear to you;
His world was shattered
We live in different worlds
For them demons were as much a part of reality as trees were
Real
Very
I'm real sorry about that.
Reality
The state of being actual or real;
The reality of his situation slowly dawned on him
Real
A thing or whole having actual existence. Often used with the
Theories beyond the realm of the real.
Reality
The state of the world as it really is rather than as you might want it to be;
Businessmen have to face harsh realities
Real
(Mathematics) A real number.
Reality
The quality possessed by something that is real
Real
A silver coin formerly used in Spain and Latin America.
Real
A unit of currency formerly used in Portugal.
Real
See Table at currency.
Real
True, genuine, not merely nominal or apparent.
Real
Genuine, not artificial, counterfeit, or fake.
This is real leather.
Real
Genuine, unfeigned, sincere.
These are real tears!
Real
Actually being, existing, or occurring; not fictitious or imaginary.
A description of real life
Real
That has objective, physical existence.
No one has ever seen a real unicorn.
Real
(economics) Having been adjusted to remove the effects of inflation; measured in purchasing power contrast nominal.
My dad calculated my family's real consumption per month.
What is the real GNP of this polity?
Real
(economics) Relating to the result of the actions of rational agents; relating to neoclassical economic models as opposed to Keynesian models.
Real
Being either a rational number, or the limit of a convergent infinite sequence of rational numbers: being one of a set of numbers with a one-to-one correspondence to the points on a line.
Real
(legal) Relating to immovable tangible property.
Real estate;
Real property
Real
Absolute, complete, utter.
This is a real problem.
Real
(slang) Signifying meritorious qualities or actions especially as regard the enjoyment of life, prowess at sports, or success wooing potential partners.
I'm keeping it real.
Real
Really, very.
When I told him the truth, he got real mad.
Real
A commodity; see realty.
Real
(grammar) One of the three genders that the common gender can be separated into in the Scandinavian languages.
Real
(mathematics) A real number.
Real
(obsolete) A realist.
Real
Former unit of currency of Spain and Spain's colonies.
Real
A coin worth one real.
Real
A unit of currency used in Portugal and its colonies from 1430 until 1911, and in Brazil from 1790 until 1942.
Real
A coin worth one real.
Real
A unit of currency used in Brazil since 1994. Symbol: R$.
Real
A coin worth one real.
Real
A former small Spanish silver coin; also, a denomination of money of account, formerly the unit of the Spanish monetary system.
Real
A realist.
Real
Royal; regal; kingly.
Real
Actually being or existing; not fictitious or imaginary; as, a description of real life.
Whereat I waked, and foundBefore mine eyes all real, as the dreamHad lively shadowed.
Real
True; genuine; not artificial, counterfeit, or factitious; often opposed to ostensible; as, the real reason; real Madeira wine; real ginger.
Whose perfection far excelledHers in all real dignity.
Real
Relating to things, not to persons.
Many are perfect in men's humors that are not greatly capable of the real part of business.
Real
Having an assignable arithmetical or numerical value or meaning; not imaginary.
Real
Pertaining to things fixed, permanent, or immovable, as to lands and tenements; as, real property, in distinction from personal or movable property.
For he that but conceives a crime in thought,Contracts the danger of an actual fault.
Our simple ideas are all real; all agree to the reality of things.
Real
Any rational or irrational number
Real
An old small silver Spanish coin
Real
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory;
Real objects
Real people; not ghosts
A film based on real life
A real illness
Real humility
Life is real! Life is earnest!
Real
No less than what is stated; worthy of the name;
The real reason
Real war
A real friend
A real woman
Meat and potatoes--I call that a real meal
It's time he had a real job
It's no penny-ante job--he's making real money
Real
Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something;
Her actual motive
A literal solitude like a desert
A genuine dilemma
Real
Not synthetic or spurious; of real or natural origin;
Real mink
True gold
Real
Not to be taken lightly;
Statistics demonstrate that poverty and unemployment are very real problems
To the man sleeping regularly in doorways homelessness is real
Real
Possible to be treated as fact;
Tangible evidence
His brief time as Prime Minister brought few real benefits to the poor
Real
Being value measured in terms of purchasing power;
Real prices
Real income
Real wages
Real
Having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary;
The substantial world
A mere dream, neither substantial nor practical
Most ponderous and substantial things
Real
(of property) fixed or immovable;
Real property consists of land and buildings; real estate
Real
Coinciding with reality;
Perceptual error...has a surprising resemblance to veridical perception
Real
Founded on practical matters;
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time
Real
Used as intensifiers; `real' is sometimes used informally for `really'; `rattling' is informal;
She was very gifted
He played very well
A really enjoyable evening
I'm real sorry about it
A rattling good yarn
Common Curiosities
Can "real" be used for people?
Yes, to describe genuineness or authenticity of character.
Is reality the same for everyone?
Reality is objective, but individual perceptions of it can vary.
Can a situation be real but not tangible?
Yes, emotions or ideas can be real even if intangible.
Is reality subjective?
While perceptions of reality can be subjective, reality itself is objective.
Can reality be changed?
Certain aspects of reality can change, but fundamental realities often remain constant.
Can something be real but not part of reality?
No, if something is real, it is inherently part of reality.
Is "real" always positive?
Not necessarily; it simply denotes authenticity or existence.
Does "real" imply permanence?
Not always; real things or situations can be temporary.
Can animals perceive reality?
Yes, but their perception of reality differs from humans.
Is reality always physical?
Reality includes physical and non-physical aspects (like thoughts).
Does virtual reality count as reality?
Virtual reality mimics real experiences but is not reality itself.
Can dreams be considered reality?
Dreams are real experiences but do not constitute objective reality.
Is "real" synonymous with truth?
Often, but "real" can also refer to genuine qualities independent of truth.
Are emotions real?
Yes, emotions are real, though they are subjective experiences.
Can reality be scientifically proven?
Many aspects of reality can be verified or observed scientifically.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
