\Re"al*ist\, n. [Cf. F. r['e]aliste.]
1. (Philos.) One who believes in realism; esp., one who
   maintains that generals, or the terms used to denote the
   genera and species of things, represent real existences,
   and are not mere names, as maintained by the nominalists.
2. (Art. & Lit.) An artist or writer who aims at realism in
   his work. See {Realism}, 2.