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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-02-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001605554</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bakke Thomas Q.</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>EVP &amp; Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20026</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>106695.2958</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These are Restricted Share Awards granted for 2018 pursuant to the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  The vesting of Mr. Bakke's awards will accelerate upon his retirement date, March 8, 2019, per the terms of his Separation Agreement and General Release dated February 15, 2019.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: W. Drew Hammond For: Thomas Q. Bakke</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-02-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2019-02-14
0
0000104894
WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
WRE
0001605554
Bakke Thomas Q.
1775 EYE STREET
SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
0
1
0
0
EVP & Chief Operating Officer
Common Stock
2019-02-14
4
A
0
20026
0.0
A
106695.2958
D
Common Stock
1000
I
by Spouse
These are Restricted Share Awards granted for 2018 pursuant to the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  The vesting of Mr. Bakke's awards will accelerate upon his retirement date, March 8, 2019, per the terms of his Separation Agreement and General Release dated February 15, 2019.
By: W. Drew Hammond For: Thomas Q. Bakke
2019-02-19