Reality vs. Realness — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 1, 2024
Reality refers to the state of things as they actually exist, independent of perception; realness is the quality of being genuine or authentic.
Difference Between Reality and Realness
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Reality encompasses all that is physically and objectively present, often perceived through human senses or scientific verification. In contrast, realness pertains more to the authenticity or genuineness of something, focusing on its true nature rather than its existence.
Reality is measured and understood through empirical evidence and factual confirmation, grounding it in the physical world. Realness, on the other hand, often deals with perceptions, feelings, or cultural contexts, emphasizing the sincerity or integrity of phenomena.
While reality is an objective state, unaffected by beliefs or feelings, realness often involves a subjective assessment of whether something feels sincere or true to its nature. This subjective quality can vary from person to person.
The concept of reality is pivotal in sciences and philosophy, where it helps distinguish actual phenomena from illusions or misconceptions. Whereas, realness plays a critical role in arts and human interactions, where authenticity affects how deeply people connect with art or each other.
In everyday language, reality is frequently used to refer to real-life situations or practical truths, as opposed to fictional or hypothetical scenarios. Realness, however, is commonly used to describe the quality of being real or authentic in character and behavior.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The state of things as they actually exist.
The quality of being genuine or authentic.
Context of Usage
Science, philosophy, everyday factuality.
Arts, personal interactions, cultural analysis.
Objectivity
Objective and universally measurable.
Subjective and variable.
Relation to Perception
Independent of human perception.
Often reliant on subjective human perception.
Example Use
Reality of climate change is supported by data.
His realness makes his music resonate with fans.
Compare with Definitions
Reality
Real life, practical or actual experiences.
Facing reality is often challenging after a long vacation.
Realness
The state of being real, genuine, or not imitation.
The realness of his apology was questionable.
Reality
The totality of real things and events.
She prefers virtual games to dealing with reality.
Realness
The quality of being true to one's own personality, spirit, or character.
His realness is evident in his candid communication.
Reality
Reality as the sum of all physical existence.
Documentary films aim to portray reality.
Realness
A measure of how genuine something appears.
The realness of synthetic diamonds can be startling.
Reality
Something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily.
Gravity is part of our physical reality.
Realness
Authenticity in terms of character or behavior.
Her realness in interviews makes her very relatable.
Reality
Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence.
Realness
A term often used in social contexts to describe sincerity.
People appreciate the realness he brings to his performances.
Reality
The state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them
Laura was losing touch with reality
He refuses to face reality
Realness
Realness is the eighth studio album from singer and drag queen RuPaul. It was released on March 2, 2015 and is RuPaul's first album to feature a Parental Advisory warning label.
Reality
The state or quality of having existence or substance
Youth, when death has no reality
Realness
Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verifiable existence
Real objects.
A real illness.
Reality
The quality or state of being actual or true.
Realness
True and actual; not imaginary, alleged, or ideal
Real people, not ghosts.
A film based on real life.
Reality
One, such as a person, an entity, or an event, that is actual
"the weight of history and political realities" (Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.).
Realness
Of or founded on practical matters and concerns
A recent graduate experiencing the real world for the first time.
Reality
The totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence.
Realness
Genuine and authentic; not artificial or spurious
Real mink.
Real humility.
Reality
That which exists objectively and in fact
Your observations do not seem to be about reality.
Realness
Being no less than what is stated; worthy of the name
A real friend.
Reality
Relating to or being a genre of television or film in which a storyline is created by editing footage of people interacting or competing with one another in unscripted, unrehearsed situations.
Realness
Free of pretense, falsehood, or affectation
Tourists hoping for a real experience on the guided tour.
Reality
The state of being actual or real; realness.
The reality of the crash scene on TV dawned upon him only when he saw the victim was no actor but his friend.
Realness
Not to be taken lightly; serious
In real trouble.
Reality
The real world.
Realness
(Philosophy) Existing objectively in the world regardless of subjectivity or conventions of thought or language.
Reality
A real entity, event, or other fact.
The ultimate reality of life is that it ends in death.
Realness
Relating to, being, or having value reckoned by actual purchasing power
Real income.
Real growth.
Reality
The entirety of all that is real.
Realness
(Physics) Of, relating to, or being an image formed by light rays that converge in space.
Reality
An individual observer's own subjective perception of that which is real.
Realness
(Mathematics) Of, relating to, or being a real number.
Reality
(obsolete) loyalty; devotion.
Realness
(Law) Of or relating to stationary or fixed property, such as buildings or land.
Reality
; real estate.
Realness
Very
I'm real sorry about that.
Reality
The state or quality of being real; actual being or existence of anything, in distinction from mere appearance; fact.
A man fancies that he understands a critic, when in reality he does not comprehend his meaning.
Realness
A thing or whole having actual existence. Often used with the
Theories beyond the realm of the real.
Reality
That which is real; an actual existence; that which is not imagination, fiction, or pretense; that which has objective existence, and is not merely an idea.
And to realities yield all her shows.
My neck may be an idea to you, but it is a reality to me.
Realness
(Mathematics) A real number.
Reality
Loyalty; devotion.
To express our reality to the emperor.
Realness
The state of being real; reality.
Reality
See 2d Realty, 2.
Realness
The quality or condition of being real; reality.
Reality
All of your experiences that determine how things appear to you;
His world was shattered
We live in different worlds
For them demons were as much a part of reality as trees were
Realness
The state of being actual or real;
The reality of his situation slowly dawned on him
Reality
The state of being actual or real;
The reality of his situation slowly dawned on him
Reality
The state of the world as it really is rather than as you might want it to be;
Businessmen have to face harsh realities
Reality
The quality possessed by something that is real
Common Curiosities
How does realness play a role in arts?
In the arts, realness is crucial as it determines the authenticity and emotional connection that the audience feels with the work.
Why is reality important in science?
Reality provides a baseline of facts and existence that science seeks to understand and explain.
Can something be real but not part of reality?
Yes, realness can refer to qualities like sincerity, which are real but not physical components of reality.
How do perceptions affect our understanding of reality and realness?
Perceptions can shape our understanding of what is real (realness) but do not change the objective facts of reality.
What impacts our sense of realness in daily interactions?
Personal values, experiences, and cultural context heavily influence our sense of what is real or authentic in interactions.
What is the main difference between reality and realness?
Reality is the state of things as they exist, while realness concerns the genuineness or authenticity of something.
Can realness be measured?
Realness is subjective and varies by individual perceptions, making it challenging to measure objectively.
How does philosophy interpret reality?
Philosophy often examines the nature and scope of reality, questioning what is truly knowable or existent.
Is virtual reality a type of reality?
Virtual reality simulates environments and experiences, but it does not constitute physical reality, although it is a real experience.
Is realness a cultural construct?
Yes, realness is a cultural construct.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
