Realm vs. Kingdom — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 5, 2023
Realm often refers to a general area of interest or activity, while kingdom is a political state ruled by a king or queen.
Difference Between Realm and Kingdom
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Realm refers to an area or domain of activity, interest, or knowledge, which may be tangible or metaphorical. It suggests a sphere of influence or a field one might specialize in. Kingdom, by contrast, typically signifies a political or territorial unit ruled by a monarch, often hereditary, and is associated with a structured society under a defined leadership.
A realm can denote a field governed by certain principles or truths, such as the realm of science or the realm of possibility. A kingdom is more concrete, referring to a specific geographic area with defined borders and a centralized authority, where governance and hierarchy are prominent.
In literature and fantasy, 'realm' is often used to describe entire worlds or dimensions, imbued with a sense of vastness and wonder. 'Kingdom' in these genres still implies a governance system, but it may also encompass mythical elements, adding to its grandeur and scale.
While the realm is a broad term that can be applied to any sphere, be it mental, physical, or spiritual, a kingdom is primarily a political entity with laws, governance, and a population. Realms may overlap and coexist without clear boundaries, unlike kingdoms, which are clearly delineated.
Realms can exist without any formal leadership or hierarchy, functioning within their own sets of rules or natural laws. Kingdoms are characterized by their clear-cut systems of governance, led by a monarch, and the societal structures they contain.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A domain or field of interest or activity
A political state with a monarch
Usage
Can be metaphorical or literal
Primarily literal and political
Governance
Not necessarily governed
Has a defined ruling authority
Scope
Broad and varied
Geographical and political
Examples
Realm of fantasy, realm of science
The United Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom
Compare with Definitions
Realm
An area or sphere with its own rules.
In the realm of politics, allies can quickly become adversaries.
Kingdom
A realm with a structured governance system.
The kingdom's laws were strict but fair to its citizens.
Realm
A general area or province of thought or knowledge.
His theories extended the realm of classical economics.
Kingdom
A realm featured in stories, with castles and dragons.
Knights defended the kingdom from the fire-breathing dragon.
Realm
A field or pursuit within a broader category.
She is considered an expert in the realm of digital marketing.
Kingdom
A country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen
The Kingdom of the Netherlands
Realm
A realm is a community or territory over which a sovereign rules. The term is commonly used to describe a monarchical or dynastic state.
Kingdom
A country ruled by a king or queen.
The kingdom was at peace under the new monarch's rule.
Realm
A domain of activity or interest.
Quantum physics is a complex realm that fascinates many scientists.
Kingdom
An area or territory with distinct political boundaries.
The ancient kingdom stretched across what are now several European countries.
Realm
A kingdom in fantasy or fiction.
The elves guarded the forest realm against all intruders.
Kingdom
The spiritual reign or authority of God.
Realm
A community or territory over which a sovereign rules; a kingdom.
Kingdom
Each of the three traditional divisions (animal, vegetable, and mineral) in which natural objects have conventionally been classified.
Realm
An area or sphere, as of knowledge or activity
The realm of science.
Kingdom
A political or territorial unit ruled by a sovereign.
Realm
An abstract sphere of influence, real or imagined.
Kingdom
The eternal spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ.
Realm
The domain of a certain abstraction.
Kingdom
The realm of this sovereignty.
Realm
(computing) A scope of operation in networking or security.
Kingdom
A realm or sphere in which one thing is dominant
The kingdom of the imagination.
Realm
A territory or state, as ruled by a specific power, especially by a king.
Kingdom
In the Linnean taxonomic system, the highest taxonomic category into which organisms are grouped, based on fundamental similarities and common ancestry. One widely used taxonomic system designates five or six such groups
Animals, plants, fungi, protists, and prokaryotes (often divided into bacteria and archaea). Other systems divide organisms into domains (eukaryotes, bacteria, and archaea) that replace or rank above kingdoms.
Realm
An otherworldly dimension or domain — magical, ethereal, or otherwise — usually ruled or created by a mystical character.
Kingdom
One of the three main divisions (animal, vegetable, and mineral) into which natural organisms and objects have traditionally been classified.
Realm
A taxonomic rank in the phylogeny of viruses, higher than kingdoms.
Kingdom
A realm having a king and/or queen as its actual or nominal sovereign.
Realm
A royal jurisdiction or domain; a region which is under the dominion of a king; a kingdom.
The absolute master of realms on which the sun perpetually shone.
Kingdom
A realm, region, or conceptual space where something is dominant.
The kingdom of thought
The kingdom of the dead
Realm
Hence, in general, province; region; country; domain; department; division; as, the realm of fancy.
Kingdom
(taxonomy) A rank in the classification of organisms, below domain and above phylum; a taxon at that rank (e.g. the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom).
Realm
A domain in which something is dominant;
The untroubled kingdom of reason
A land of make-believe
The rise of the realm of cotton in the south
Kingdom
The rank, quality, state, or attributes of a king; royal authority; sovereign power; rule; dominion; monarchy.
Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
When Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself.
Realm
A knowledge domain that you are interested in or are communicating about;
It was a limited domain of discourse
Here we enter the region of opinion
The realm of the occult
Kingdom
The territory or country subject to a king or queen; the dominion of a monarch; the sphere in which one is king or has control.
Unto the kingdom of perpetual night.
You're welcome,Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom.
Realm
The domain ruled by a king or queen
Kingdom
An extensive scientific division distinguished by leading or ruling characteristics; a principal division; a department; as, the mineral kingdom. In modern biology, the division of life into five kingdoms is widely used for classification.
Kingdom
A domain in which something is dominant;
The untroubled kingdom of reason
A land of make-believe
The rise of the realm of cotton in the south
Kingdom
A country with a king as head of state
Kingdom
The domain ruled by a king or queen
Kingdom
A monarchy with a king or queen as head of state
Kingdom
One of seven biological categories: Monera or Protoctista or Plantae or Fungi or Animalia
Kingdom
A basic group of natural objects
Kingdom
In biology, a major category in the classification of life forms.
Fungi belong to their own kingdom separate from plants and animals.
Common Curiosities
What is a realm in historical context?
Historically, a realm is a kingdom or territory ruled by a monarch.
How does the 'kingdom' classification in biology differ from its political meaning?
In biology, a kingdom is one of the large groups into which living organisms are classified, unrelated to politics.
How does 'kingdom' relate to fairy tales?
Many fairy tales are set in kingdoms, which are lands of fantasy with monarchs and castles.
Is a 'realm' always governed by a king?
No, realms are not necessarily governed by a monarch or any single ruler.
What is an example of a realm that is not a kingdom?
The realm of theoretical physics is an example.
Is 'kingdom' a higher classification than 'realm'?
Not necessarily; it depends on the context in which they're used.
Are there modern kingdoms today?
Yes, there are several countries that are still officially kingdoms, such as the United Kingdom.
Can a realm be non-physical?
Yes, the term 'realm' can refer to non-physical domains, like the realm of ideas.
Is a kingdom always led by a monarchy?
Traditionally, yes, but in contemporary use, it can refer to any area with clear borders, not necessarily ruled by monarchy.
How do you use 'realm' in a sentence to express a concept?
"She ventured into the realm of entrepreneurship with great enthusiasm."
Can 'realm' refer to an entire world in fiction?
Yes, in fiction, 'realm' often refers to whole worlds or universes.
What does 'expanding one's realm' mean?
It means to increase the area of one's influence or knowledge.
Can 'realm' and 'kingdom' be used interchangeably?
In some contexts they can, especially in fantasy literature, but they often have distinct meanings.
What does it mean to be 'within someone's realm'?
It means to be within the area of someone's expertise or influence.
Do all kingdoms have castles?
In historical and fictional contexts, often yes; in modern terms, not necessarily.
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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.
