real ‧ ist /ˈrɪələst, ˈrɪəlɪst/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ realism , ↑ realist , ↑ reality , ↑ unreality , ↑ realization ; adverb : ↑ real , ↑ really , ↑ realistically ≠ ↑ unrealistically ; adjective : ↑ real , ↑ unreal , ↑ realistic ≠ ↑ unrealistic ; verb : ↑ realize ]
1 . someone who accepts that things are not always perfect, and deals with problems or difficult situations in a practical way:
She had always been a realist, not a dreamer.
2 . a writer, painter etc who shows or describes things, especially unpleasant things, as they really are in life