noun
Common
realm
rehlm
Realm (noun) means a kingdom or territory ruled by a monarch or supreme authority. Example: “The queen travelled across her realm to meet her loyal subjects.”
noun
1
A kingdom or territory ruled by a monarch or supreme authority.
"The queen travelled across her realm to meet her loyal subjects."
"The knight swore loyalty to the king and his realm."
"Peace finally settled over the realm after years of war."
2
A particular area of activity, knowledge, or interest.
"Cooking has always been my dad's realm, so we leave the kitchen to him."
"Quantum computing still belongs largely to the realm of theoretical research."
"Such extravagant claims fall firmly within the realm of fantasy."
How to use realm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA kingdom, or more loosely, a whole area or domain of something (like "the realm of possibility").
Common pairings
the realm of possibility
a distant realm
ruler of the realm
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Word forms
- Plural
- realms
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The queen travelled across her _____ to meet her loyal subjects.
Etymology
From Old French reaume/realme ("kingdom"), of murky origin, likely a blend of Latin regimen and rēgālis; the modern spelling settled around 1600.
Class of 1600
realm joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “realm” mean?
The word “realm” means a kingdom or territory ruled by a monarch or supreme authority. In plain terms, a kingdom, or more loosely, a whole area or domain of something (like "the realm of possibility").
How do you pronounce “realm”?
“Realm” is pronounced rehlm (/ɹɛlm/ in IPA).
How do you use “realm” in a sentence?
Here is “realm” used in a sentence: “The knight swore loyalty to the king and his realm.”
What is another word for “realm”?
Words with a similar meaning to “realm” include country, land and kingdom.
What part of speech is “realm”?
“Realm” is a noun.
Where does the word “realm” come from?
The word “realm” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Latin. From Old French reaume/realme ("kingdom"), of murky origin, likely a blend of Latin regimen and rēgālis; the modern spelling settled around 1600.
Is “realm” a common word?
“Realm” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “realm” have?
“Realm” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a kingdom or territory ruled by a monarch or supreme authority.
What is the difference between a realm and a kingdom?
A kingdom is specifically a territory ruled by a king or queen, while a realm is any territory under a monarch or supreme authority, making it slightly broader and more formal. Realm is also used figuratively for an area of activity or knowledge, as in "the realm of science," where kingdom would sound odd.
What is the difference between realm and domain?
Both words can describe an area of activity, knowledge, or influence, and in figurative use they are often interchangeable. Realm leans slightly literary and suggests a broad sphere ("the realm of politics"), while domain often implies ownership, control, or specialism ("that decision is the manager's domain"). Domain also has technical meanings, such as an internet domain, that realm does not share.
Is realm a formal word?
Realm sits at the formal or literary end of the scale, especially in its original sense of a monarch's territory, where it appears in legal and ceremonial language. In everyday figurative use, as in "the realm of fantasy," it is common in written English but rarer in casual speech.
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