reality-tv
UK[riˈæləti ˌtiː ˈviː]US[riˈæləti ˌtiː ˈviː]
n
A genre of television programming that presents unscripted situations, often featuring ordinary people rather than professional actors, and claims to depict real-life events.
Morpheme Breakdown
reality
tv
reality
noun
tv
noun
Etymology
The term is a modern compound noun formed in the late 20th century. The first element, 'reality', originates from the Latin res (thing, matter), evolving through realis to denote the state of being actual or true. The second element, 'TV', is a clipped form of 'television', a word itself derived from Greek and Latin roots meaning 'far sight'. The compound 'reality-tv' thus logically, and somewhat ironically, combines the concept of depicting factual events with the medium of broadcast visual entertainment, creating a label for a genre that purports to show unscripted real-life situations.
Analysis
Structure: reality (noun) + tv (noun)
reality: From Latin realitas (quality of being real), from realis (real), from res (thing, matter). Functions as the head noun specifying the subject matter.
tv: Abbreviation for 'television', from Greek tele- (far) and Latin visio (act of seeing). Functions as a noun modifier specifying the medium.
Examples
The popularity of reality-tv has changed the landscape of broadcast entertainment.
Many contestants go on reality-tv shows hoping to achieve instant fame.
Critics argue that much of reality-tv is heavily edited and not an accurate reflection of reality.