real-

In actual fact.

A person should not use the adjective real as a substitute for the adverbs really or very.

The rule is simple: if it is possible to substitute the word very for real in a sentence, then the use of real would be incorrect.

"It's a real diamond" is correct. Here real means genuine, and the sentence would make no sense if anyone substituted very for real.

Such sentences as, "It's a real nice day", "He's real good to his children", "We had a real good time", etc., are considered to be grammatically incorrect.

What is meant is "It's a very (really) nice day", "He's very (really) good to his children", "We had a very (really) good time."

1. Having actual physical existence; being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory; such as, a description of real life.
2. Verifiable as actual fact; that is, legally or scientifically.
3. Existing as fact, rather than as a product of dreams or the imagination.
4. Genuine, true, and original, not artificial, counterfeit, factitious, or synthetic.
5. Prepared or made in a traditional or authentic way, rather than being mass-produced or artificial.
6. Based on fact, observation, or experience and so undisputed; not synthetic or spurious; of real or natural origin.

Real means being in accordance with appearance or a claim, not artificial or counterfeit, and is in this sense often synonymous with genuine; such as, a real (genuine) alibi; real (genuine) money.

7. Used to emphasize the accuracy or appropriateness of a particular thing: "She's a real teacher."
8. Being honest or sincere, not feigned or faking.
9. In law, pertaining to things fixed, permanent or immovable; such as, lands and tenements; as real estate, the opposite of personal or movable property.
10. In mathematics, involving, relating to, or having elements of the set of rational or irrational numbers only.
11. Etymology: from the mid-15th century, "relating to things"; especially, property; from Old French, reel; from Late Latin realis, "actual", from Latin res, "matter, thing", of unknown origin.

The meaning of "genuine" is recorded from 1550's; then that of "actually existing" is attested from 1590's. The sense of "unaffected, no-nonsense" is from 1847. Real estate is first recorded in the 1660's and it keeps the oldest English sense of the word.

The noun phrase "real time" is from 1953.

Additional information about the etymology of real

Mutual funds holding real property or mortgages on real property as principal assets.

Landed property, including all inherent natural resources and any man-made improvements established for it.

In physics, a flow that takes into consideration the energy lost by the flowing fluid through friction with the boundaries restricting its motion.

A force that can be traced to the effect of its actual physical origin, as distinguished from a theoretical force that is postulated to account for some observed effect.

An optical image formed of the points of converging rays of light coming from an object.

The relative price of a commodity in terms of another basket of commodities.

GDP, gross domestic product, is often measured in real prices to eliminate the effects of inflation.

An application of computerized equipment that allows data to be processed with relation to ongoing external events, so the operation can make immediate diagnostic or other decisions based on the current data output.

Ultrasound scanning uses real-time control systems, making results available almost simultaneously with the generation of the input data.

1. A practical understanding and acceptance of what is actual and possible in a particular situation, rather than being idealized or presenting romantic views: Isabel has a sense of realism about what can be done to improve the profits for her company.
2. The theory that there is an objectively existing world, which is not dependent just on the views some have visualized in their minds, where people are able to understand aspects of that environment through their perceptions: The realism that some individuals have is unrealistic and so there are those who seem to live in a dream world and they are not able to achieve practical objectives or desires.
5. Etymology: from Latin realis, "actual"; from res, "matter" or "thing." © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. A person who tends to view or to represent things as they really are and who avoids ideals and abstractions.
2. Someone who practices realism in the arts or believes in philosophical theories of realism.
3. Anyone who is inclined more to literal truth and pragmatism.

"He was realistic about his failure."
"It was such a realistic movie anyone could easily relate to it."

Synonymous applications for realistic: pragmatic, down-to-earth; true-to-life, natural, naturalistic, lifelike, graphic, descriptive; real, authentic, genuine, truthful, faithful, precise.

1. Tending to or expressing an awareness of things as they really are: "The doctor tried to give him a realistic appraisal of his chances of surviving the operation."
2. Of or relating to the representation of objects, actions, or social conditions as they actually are.
3. A reference to seeking what is achievable or possible, based on known facts.
4. Simulating real things or imaginary things in a way that seems real; such as, computer games with realistic graphics.
3. Trying to be reasonable; such as, having a realistic price for something that is not priced or valued too low or high.
4. In the arts and literature, representing life as it really is, rather than an idealized version of it.

1. Relating to the representation of objects, actions, or social conditions as they actually are.
2. In a realistic manner or in a way that shows that a person has accepted a situation as it really is, not as he or she would like for it to be.
3. Thinking about something in a way that seems real or is like real life.