Etymology
Origin of objectivity
Explanation
Objectivity is a noun that means a lack of bias, judgment, or prejudice. Maintaining one's objectivity is the most important job of a judge. The meaning of objectivity is easy to remember, when you see that the word "object" embedded within it. While it can be hard to show objectivity about people or pets, it's easy to be more "objective" about objects. I can show objectivity about a box of rocks; it's much harder to show it with my dog. The opposite of objectivity is "subjectivity," which is personal bias or opinion.
Vocabulary lists containing objectivity
100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
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Journalism
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"What Is News?" and "How to Detect Bias in the News"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Scott’s chief of staff filed an ethics complaint soon after, arguing the image and several social-media posts raised “serious questions” about Cumming’s objectivity.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
These are unfortunate examples of how AI can lead to mistreatment of people because of technical flaws as well as misplaced human faith in the technology’s supposed objectivity.
From Salon • May 12, 2026
Firms must also disclose analysts’ conflicts and limit activities that could compromise analysts’ objectivity.
From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026
However, Scullion claimed the police investigation was "flawed" and "lacked neutrality and objectivity".
From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026
Vitruvius described something like perspective painting, but the Renaissance invented a new combination of subjectivity and objectivity, the situated viewer and the vanishing point.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
