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.

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. 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

Other Word Forms

• subjectively adverb
• subjectivity noun
• subjectiveness noun
• nonsubjective adjective
• nonsubjectiveness noun
• quasi-subjective adjective
• unsubjective 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

“Innovation is not always embraced and art is to be interpreted and it’s subjective.”

From Los Angeles Times

“The biggest problem we face is that there’s no agreement on what terrorism is and it’s become completely subjective,” said Bruce Hoffman, senior fellow for counter-terrorism and homeland security at the Council on Foreign Relations.

From Los Angeles Times

“You as the viewer get to decide: Is there a truth, or is it just subjective?” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

That perception isn’t necessarily subjective but is, in fact, a window into another reality that exists beyond our own.

From Los Angeles Times

She said in her filing that the police had asked her to conduct a test gauging her eyes’ reaction to stimulus, a “less accurate and subjective test” than the blood test she requested.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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