subjective

[ suhb-jek-tiv ]

adjective

1. existing in the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought ( objective ).

   Synonyms: mental

2. pertaining to or characteristic of an individual; personal; individual:

   a subjective evaluation.

3. placing excessive emphasis on one's own moods, attitudes, opinions, etc.; unduly egocentric.
4. Philosophy. relating to or of the nature of an object as it is known in the mind as distinct from a thing in itself.
5. relating to properties or specific conditions of the mind as distinguished from general or universal experience.
6. pertaining to the subject or substance in which attributes inhere; essential.

   Synonyms: inherent, substantial

7. Grammar.
   1. pertaining to or constituting the subject of a sentence.
   2. (in English and certain other languages) noting a case specialized for that use, as He in He hit the ball.
   3. similar to such a case in meaning. Compare nominative.
8. Obsolete. characteristic of a political subject; submissive.

subjective

/ səbˈdʒɛktɪv /

adjective

1. belonging to, proceeding from, or relating to the mind of the thinking subject and not the nature of the object being considered
2. of, relating to, or emanating from a person's emotions, prejudices, etc

   subjective views

3. relating to the inherent nature of a person or thing; essential
4. existing only as perceived and not as a thing in itself
5. med (of a symptom, condition, etc) experienced only by the patient and incapable of being recognized or studied by anyone else
6. See nominative
   grammar denoting a case of nouns and pronouns, esp in languages having only two cases, that identifies the subject of a finite verb and (in formal use in English) is selected for predicate complements, as in It is I See also nominative

noun

1. grammar
   1. the subjective case
   2. a subjective word or speech element

Derived Forms

• subˈjectively, adverb
• ˌsubjecˈtivity, noun

Other Words From

• sub·jec·tive·ly adverb
• sub·jec·tive·ness noun
• non·sub·jec·tive adjective
• non·sub·jec·tive·ness noun
• qua·si-sub·jec·tive adjective
• un·sub·jec·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of subjective¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English: “submissive to a ruler,” from Latin subjectīvus; subject, -ive

Example Sentences

Moreover, we don’t generally take these facts to be mere records of our subjective preferences or of cultural norms.

From Nautilus

These algorithms may seem mathematical and objective, but Woolley says the system is “incredibly subjective,” with many human decisions behind how and why particular content gets recommended.

From MIT Technology Review

There is still almost no scientific understanding of how the “boops” of electrochemical pulses in the brain become the subjective experience of thinking, feeling, or remembering.

From Fortune

However, judging the quality of writing is highly subjective.

From Search Engine Watch

Of course, measuring emotions is highly complex, and given how subjective and multifaceted they are, quantitative measurements will never entirely displace the qualitative element of evaluating and describing what we’re thinking and feeling.

From Fortune

For one thing, the subjective/objective distinction is fundamental to Western notions of scholarship, and science itself.

From The Daily Beast

The whole goal is to create an effective experience of fear, which is subjective.

From The Daily Beast

Unless you can find good criticism, which is hard to do, because you get too subjective.

From The Daily Beast

The subjective and unverifiable nature of pain is one of the most challenging aspects of managing it.

From The Daily Beast

These results, of course, are subjective and totally unscientific.

From The Daily Beast

They were not pretenders and quacks; they were sceptics who denied subjective truths, and labored for outward advantage.

From Project Gutenberg

He did not deny to ideas a subjective existence, but he did deny that they have an objective existence.

From Project Gutenberg

Let us put aside for a moment planetary and sidereal visions, which appear more subjective than objective.

From Project Gutenberg

So far as we can learn, the benefit was entirely in the subjective symptoms of the patient.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Melchers attacks whatever suits his particular mood, and his art is not suggestive of a subjective temperament.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abstract
• biased
• idiosyncratic
• illusory
• instinctive
• intuitive
• personal