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Meaning & use

realm

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/relm/
US/relm/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablefigurative

    An area of activity, interest, thought or knowledge.

    Grammar: Usually followed by of: the realm of science.

    Patterns

    • the realm of something
    • in the realm of something

    Time travel belongs in the realm of science fiction.

    Such a result is within the realm of possibility.

    She is a leader in the realm of digital art.

  2. nouncountableliterary

    A kingdom, or the territory ruled by a king or queen.

    Grammar: Often used in stories or formal history: the defense of the realm.

    Patterns

    • the realm of someone

    The king traveled across his realm to meet his subjects.

    Knights swore to protect the realm.

Word forms

pluralrealms

Common combinations

realm of possibility
A cure now seems within the realm of possibility.
the political realm
Few women worked in the political realm then.
beyond the realm of
That is beyond the realm of my experience.
defend the realm
The army was called to defend the realm.

Synonyms and how they differ

domain
Domain suggests an area of control or expertise and is slightly more formal.
sphere
Sphere stresses an area of influence or activity, such as the social sphere.
kingdom
Kingdom is the literal country ruled by a monarch and does not extend to fields of knowledge.

Commonly confused: realm or real?

realm vs real

Real means actual or true; realm is a noun for an area or kingdom.

Practice

Flying cars are still in the ______ of science fiction.

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