# realm

/ˈɹɛɫm/ (US) · /ɹˈɛlm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/realm
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. area of interest or activity

noun · CEFR B2

a specific area of knowledge, interest, or activity.

For teachers: a metaphorical sphere or domain of activity, thought, or knowledge.

- The discovery was a major breakthrough in the realm of science.
- Such theoretical questions fall outside the realm of practical politics and are better suited for academic debate.

### 2. a kingdom

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary · Formal

a country or territory ruled by a king or queen.

For teachers: a community or territory over which a sovereign rules; a kingdom.

- The knights swore to protect the peace of the realm.
- The monarch sought to expand the borders of the realm through a series of strategic alliances and marriages.

### 3. biological division

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a very large area of the world where specific types of animals and plants live.

For teachers: a primary biogeographic division of the Earth's surface, such as the Nearctic or Palearctic.

- Australia belongs to a unique biological realm with many animals found nowhere else.
- Biogeographers divide the terrestrial world into several distinct realms based on the evolutionary history of the flora and fauna found therein.

### 4. virus classification

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the highest level used to group different types of viruses.

For teachers: the highest taxonomic rank used in the classification of viruses.

- Scientists placed the new virus into a specific realm based on its genetic structure.
- In viral taxonomy, the rank of realm was established to accommodate the vast genetic diversity that exceeds the traditional kingdom level.

## Examples

- That question is outside the realm of my expertise.
- The discovery of the new particle opened up possibilities that were previously only found in the realm of science fiction.
- While the physical realm is governed by the laws of thermodynamics, the digital realm operates under a different set of constraints regarding scarcity and reproduction.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.