What does "realm" mean?
A territory or state, as ruled by an absolute authority, especially by a king; a kingdom.
Realm
/rɛːm/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A territory or state, as ruled by an absolute authority, especially by a king; a kingdom.
- Grammar: realm is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: kingdom, land, abodes, ally.
- Useful contrasts: outside realm, real world.
- Usage evidence: What these acts said was that it was illegal to pay someone in anything other than coin of the realm.
How to use "realm"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "realm" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "realm" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "realm" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "realm" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "realm" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "kingdom" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "realm", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A territory or state, as ruled by an absolute authority, especially by a king; a kingdom. archaic, rhetoric
"And, of this island realm, he and his companion were the undisputed sovereigns."
- 2 a knowledge domain that you are interested in or are communicating about wordnet
- 3 A territory or state, as ruled by an absolute authority, especially by a king; a kingdom.; An otherworldly dimension or domain — magical, ethereal, or otherwise. archaic, rhetoric
- 4 the domain ruled by a king or queen wordnet
- 5 A territory or state, as ruled by an absolute authority, especially by a king; a kingdom.; The spiritual state of which God is the head; the Kingdom of Heaven. archaic, obsolete, rhetoric
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a domain in which something is dominant wordnet
- 7 A sphere of knowledge or of influence; a domain. also, figuratively
"the realm of physics"
- 8 A primary zoogeographical division of the earth's surface.
- 9 A taxonomic rank in the phylogeny of viruses, higher than kingdoms.
- 10 A region or zone forming part of a cosmological system. archaic
Antonyms
outside realmreal world
Example
"What these acts said was that it was illegal to pay someone in anything other than coin of the realm."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "realm"?
Common synonyms include: kingdom, land, abodes, ally, ambit, animal kingdom.
How do you use "realm" in a sentence?
What these acts said was that it was illegal to pay someone in anything other than coin of the realm.
How do you pronounce "realm"?
Pronounced /rɛːm/.
Etymology
From Middle English rewme, realme, reaume, from Old French reaume, realme, reialme (“kingdom”), of unclear origins. A postulated *rēgālimen (“domain, kingdom”), Late Latin or Vulgar Latin cross of regimen with rēgālis is usually cited. The modern spelling predominates from around 1600. The modern pronunciation with /l/ is either a spelling pronunciation or influenced by the etymology.