noun

realty

REE-ul-tee/ˈriːəlti/

Land and buildings held as property.

The family owns valuable realty near the center of town.

Agent hands house key to buyer beside isolated small house architectural model and simple deed with seal, no words; property transaction rather than general office.

Etymology

reLatinthing, property

+alLatinrelating to

+tyLatinstate or quality

The root means “thing” or “property,” but realty first meant reality, then a real possession. Its specialization to land reflects the fixed, permanent nature of landed property.

More examples

The estate includes realty in three states.
She invests in commercial realty, including office buildings.
The agreement covers the realty but not the furniture.

Similar words

real estate: The more common term for land and its buildings.
property: Broader term that also includes belongings other than land.