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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001517406</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Butcher Benjamin S</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>555.5552</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40993.5309</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These are Restricted Share Units granted pursuant to the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors - the number of shares awarded is based on the closing price on 9/30/2021 of $24.75. The units settle only in stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: W. Drew Hammond For: Benjamin S. Butcher</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2021-09-30
0
0000104894
WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
WRE
0001517406
Butcher Benjamin S
1775 EYE STREET
SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2021-09-30
4
A
0
555.5552
0.0
A
40993.5309
D
These are Restricted Share Units granted pursuant to the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors - the number of shares awarded is based on the closing price on 9/30/2021 of $24.75. The units settle only in stock.
By: W. Drew Hammond For: Benjamin S. Butcher
2021-10-01