realtor
B2neutral, slightly formal; predominantly North American commercial/legal.
Definition
Meaning
a person who acts as an agent for the sale and purchase of buildings and land; a real estate agent.
A member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in the United States, bound by a specific code of ethics. Often used generically (especially in North America) to refer to any real estate agent, though technically a trademarked term.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In North America, often used interchangeably with 'real estate agent', though 'Realtor' implies membership in a professional association. Elsewhere, especially in the UK, 'estate agent' is the standard term; using 'realtor' may sound like an Americanism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used almost exclusively in North America. In the UK and many Commonwealth countries, 'estate agent' is the standard term. Using 'realtor' in the UK would be understood but marked as American.
Connotations
In the US/Canada: professional, institutional (capitalized when referring to NAR members). In the UK: an Americanism, possibly implying a different style of property transaction.
Frequency
Very high frequency in American English, especially in advertising and legal contexts. Extremely low frequency in British English outside of discussions of US property markets.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
consult with a realtorhire a realtor to [verb]a realtor specializing in [type of property]a realtor from [company name]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As honest as a Realtor”
- “to have a Realtor's smile”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common in contracts, marketing materials, and professional titles within the US real estate industry.
Academic
Rare; would appear in studies of professions, economics, or urban sociology, often in a US context.
Everyday
Common in North American conversation about buying/selling homes. Less common elsewhere.
Technical
Used in legal and regulatory contexts pertaining to licensed real estate professionals who are members of the NAR.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb in standard UK English)
American English
- (Rare and non-standard as a verb; occasionally heard colloquially as 'He's realtoring now.')
adverb
British English
- (Not used)
American English
- (Not used)
adjective
British English
- (Not used as an adjective in standard UK English)
American English
- She attended the Realtor conference.
- We signed the Realtor agreement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The realtor showed us the house.
- My mum is a realtor.
- You should contact a realtor if you want to sell your flat.
- Our realtor helped us find a home near the school.
- Before making an offer, consult with your realtor about the local market conditions.
- The realtor's commission is typically a percentage of the final sale price.
- As a licensed Realtor, she is bound by a stringent code of ethics that goes beyond state law.
- The realtor deftly negotiated between the emotionally invested sellers and the cautious buyers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'REAL' (as in property) + 'TOR' (like 'actor' – someone who acts). A person who acts in real estate.
Conceptual Metaphor
A realtor is a GUIDE (through the complex process of a property transaction).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'риэлтор' (which is a direct borrowing) in formal English writing; use 'real estate agent' or 'estate agent'. The Russian borrowing 'риэлтор' is not standard English.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'realator', 'realtour'. Using it as a generic verb ('to realtor'). Capitalization error: using 'realtor' when specifically referring to an NAR member (should be 'Realtor').
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the term 'realtor' most specifically and commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In everyday American English, they are often used interchangeably. However, technically, a 'Realtor' is a real estate agent who is a member of the US National Association of Realtors (NAR) and subscribes to its code of ethics. Not all agents are Realtors.
It is a registered trademark. When referring specifically to a member of the National Association of Realtors, it should be capitalized as 'Realtor'. In generic use, especially outside the US, lowercase 'realtor' is common.
The standard British English term is 'estate agent'. Using 'realtor' in the UK will be understood but is considered an Americanism.
No, it is not standard. The noun is 'realtor' or 'real estate agent'. The related verb is 'to sell real estate' or 'to work as a realtor'.