real Definition

real¹
adj

1. Actually or physically existing; not imaginary.

Thesaurus: physical, objective, actual, material, tangible, sensible, solid; Antonym: imaginary, hypothetical.
2. Actual; true.

Example: the real reason
3. Not imitation; genuine; authentic.

Example: real leather
Thesaurus: genuine, true, authentic, bona fide, original; Antonym: counterfeit, spurious.
4a. Great, important or serious;
4b. Deserving to be so called.

Example: a real problem
5. law.
Consisting of or relating to immoveable property, such as land and houses. See also real estate.
6. Said of income, etc: measured in terms of its buying power rather than its nominal value.

Example: in real terms
7. math.
Involving or containing only real numbers.

adverb

(N Amer, Scottish)
1. Really; very.

Example: real nice

Derivative: reality

See separate entries.

Derivative: realness
noun

Idiom: for real

slang
In reality; seriously.

Derivative: get real!
exclamation

(riginally N Amer)
slang
Be realistic!

Idiom: the real McCoy

See under McCoy.

Etymology: 15c: from French réel, from Latin realis, from res thing.

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real²
noun

reals, reales
1. historical
A small silver Spanish or Spanish-American coin.

Etymology: 17c: Spanish, from Latin regalis royal.