What is the case whether or not anyone perceives it. Also, in this record's own usage, perception — since a mind meets only its own account of it.
Medieval Latin realitas, from Latin realis (actual, real), from res (a thing); reality names what a thing is regardless of who perceives it, though the word itself only exists because someone needed to say so.
What is the case whether or not anyone perceives it — and, in this record's own usage, the perception itself, since a mind meets only its own account of the thing. The root's plain thing-ness holds both senses without needing to choose between them.