# realm

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɹɛlm/ · frequency rank #6,512

## Definitions
1. A territory or state, as ruled by an absolute authority, especially by a king; a kingdom.
2. A territory or state, as ruled by an absolute authority, especially by a king; a kingdom.
3. A territory or state, as ruled by an absolute authority, especially by a king; a kingdom.
4. A sphere of knowledge or of influence; a domain.
5. A primary zoogeographical division of the earth's surface.
6. A taxonomic rank in the phylogeny of viruses, higher than kingdoms.
7. A region or zone forming part of a cosmological system.

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **REM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-rem)
- **rel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-rel)
- **rear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-rear)
- **rely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-rely)
- **reel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-reel)
- **reap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-reap)
- **roam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-roam)
- **reply** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-reply)
- **renal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-renal)
- **regal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-regal)
- **reels** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-reels)
- **reams** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-reams)
- **recall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-recall)
- **realty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-realty)
- **resale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/realm-vs-resale)
- **RAM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ram-vs-realm)
- **Rea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rea-vs-realm)
- **real** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/real-vs-realm)
- **read** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/read-vs-realm)
- **ready** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ready-vs-realm)

## Common misspellings (7)
`eralm`, `raelm`, `reallm`, `realmm`, `reaml`, `relam`, `rrealm`

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