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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-05-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001346908</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Cederdahl James Bradley</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6110 EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD, SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20852</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. V.P. - Property Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000.0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.48</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17323.6794</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Thomas C. Morey For: James B. Cederdahl</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-05-22
0
0000104894
WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
WRE
0001346908
Cederdahl James Bradley
6110 EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD, SUITE 800
ROCKVILLE
MD
20852
0
1
0
0
Sr. V.P. - Property Operations
Common Stock
2014-05-22
4
S
0
1000.0
24.48
D
17323.6794
D
By: Thomas C. Morey For: James B. Cederdahl
2014-05-22