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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001573493</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Murn Edward J. IV</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>Managing Director, Residential</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5795</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19832</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These are Restricted Share Units granted for 2016 pursuant to the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust 2016 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan - the number of shares awarded is based on the closing price on 2/17/16 of $32.35.  These shares vest ratably over 3 years on 12/15/17, 12/15/18 and 12/15/19.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: W. Drew Hammond For: Edward J. Murn, IV</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2017-02-15
0
0000104894
WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
WRE
0001573493
Murn Edward J. IV
1775 EYE STREET
SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
0
1
0
0
Managing Director, Residential
Common Stock
2017-02-15
4
A
0
5795
0.0
A
19832
D
Common Stock
500
I
by Trust
These are Restricted Share Units granted for 2016 pursuant to the Washington Real Estate Investment Trust 2016 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan - the number of shares awarded is based on the closing price on 2/17/16 of $32.35.  These shares vest ratably over 3 years on 12/15/17, 12/15/18 and 12/15/19.
By: W. Drew Hammond For: Edward J. Murn, IV
2017-02-17