The meaning of REALISTIC is of, relating to, or marked by literary or artistic realism : accurately representing what is natural or real : convincingly rendered to appear natural.

Let's be realistic (about this) - I just can't afford to pay that much money. It isn't realistic to expect people to work for so little money.

REALISTIC definition: interested in, concerned with, or based on what is real or practical. See examples of realistic used in a sentence.

Of or relating to the representation of objects, actions, or social conditions as they actually are: a realistic novel about coal mining. See Synonyms at vivid.

interested in, concerned with, or based on what is real or practical: a realistic estimate of costs; a realistic planner. pertaining to, characterized by, or given to the representation in literature or art of …

When used as an adjective, "realistic" (usually related to visual appearance) distinguishes itself from "realist" art that concerns subject matter. Similarly, the term "illusionistic" might be used when …

If you are realistic about a situation, you recognize and accept its true nature and try to deal with it in a practical way. Police have to be realistic about violent crime.