objectivity

American  

[ob-jik-tiv-i-tee, -jek-] / ˌɒb dʒɪkˈtɪv ɪ ti, -dʒɛk- /

noun

1. the state or quality of being objective.

   He tries to maintain objectivity in his judgment.

2. intentness on objects external to the mind.

3. external reality.

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Etymology

Origin of objectivity

First recorded in 1795–1805; objective + -ity

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.

Related Words

• detachment
• equality
• neutrality