<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2022-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000104894</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WRE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001910857</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gerock Susan Lilly</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1775 EYE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20006</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp; CIO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6876</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35282</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9957</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45239</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These are Restricted Share Awards granted for 2022 pursuant to the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan. These shares vest ratably over 3 years on 12/15/22, 12/15/23 and 12/15/24, subject to the reporting person's continued employment through each vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These are Restricted Share Units granted for 2021 pursuant to the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan. These shares vest ratably over 3 years on 12/15/22, 12/15/23 and 12/15/24.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: W. Drew Hammond For: Susan L. Gerock</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2022-02-16
0
0000104894
WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
WRE
0001910857
Gerock Susan Lilly
1775 EYE STREET
SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
0
1
0
0
SVP & CIO
Common Stock
2022-02-16
4
A
0
6876
0.0
A
35282
D
Common Stock
2022-02-16
4
A
0
9957
0.0
A
45239
D
These are Restricted Share Awards granted for 2022 pursuant to the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan. These shares vest ratably over 3 years on 12/15/22, 12/15/23 and 12/15/24, subject to the reporting person's continued employment through each vesting date.
These are Restricted Share Units granted for 2021 pursuant to the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan. These shares vest ratably over 3 years on 12/15/22, 12/15/23 and 12/15/24.
By: W. Drew Hammond For: Susan L. Gerock
2022-02-17