# real

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɹiːl/ · frequency rank #229

## Definitions
1. True, genuine, not merely nominal or apparent.
2. Genuine, not artificial, counterfeit, or fake.
3. Genuine, unfeigned, sincere.
4. Actually being, existing, or occurring; not fictitious or imaginary.
5. That has objective, physical existence.
6. Having been adjusted to remove the effects of inflation; measured in purchasing power (contrast nominal).
7. Relating to the result of the actions of rational agents; relating to neoclassical economic models as opposed to Keynesian models.
8. Being either a rational number, or the limit of a convergent infinite sequence of rational numbers: being one of a set of numbers with a one-to-one correspondence to the points on a line.
9. Relating to immovable tangible property.
10. Absolute, complete, utter.
11. Signifying meritorious qualities or actions, especially with regard to genuineness, groundedness, and true success rather than poser imitations of success.
12. Signifying meritorious qualities or actions, especially with regard to genuineness, groundedness, and true success rather than poser imitations of success.

## Etymology
From Middle English real, from Old French reel, from Late Latin reālis (“actual”), from Latin rēs (“matter, thing”), from Proto-Indo-European *reh₁ís (“wealth, goods”). Doublet of realis.

## Easily confused with
- **RL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rl)
- **red** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-red)
- **rep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rep)
- **rev** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rev)
- **ref** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-ref)
- **rex** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rex)
- **res** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-res)
- **Rey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rey)
- **reg** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-reg)
- **RNA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rna)
- **rec** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rec)
- **ren** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-ren)
- **REM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rem)
- **ret** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-ret)
- **RSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rsa)
- **rei** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rei)
- **rel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-rel)
- **ria** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-ria)
- **reb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-reb)
- **ree** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-ree)

## Common misspellings (5)
`eral`, `rael`, `reall`, `rela`, `rreal`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/real