objectify

verb

ob·​jec·​ti·​fy əb-ˈjek-tə-ˌfī How to pronounce objectify (audio)
objectified; objectifying

transitive verb

1
: to treat as an object or cause to have objective reality
They believe that beauty pageants objectify women.
2
: to give expression to (something, such as an abstract notion, feeling, or ideal) in a form that can be experienced by others
It is the essence of the fairy tale to objectify differing facets of the child's emotional experience …John Updike
objectification noun

Examples of objectify in a Sentence

She says beauty pageants objectify women.
Recent Examples on the Web The problem arises only when the woman being objectified has no choice in the matter. Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 10 Jan. 2024 In the end, Marge gets objectified in typical '60s sci-fi fashion, Homer enlarges to become Burns' Cronenbergian interior passenger, and everything wraps up with a song. Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 24 Nov. 2023 To idealize is finally to objectify, and sometimes admiration can feel cold. Mary Gaitskill, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 Rather, the issue lies in a woman’s lack of agency when being objectified by another. Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 10 Jan. 2024 The work didn’t sit well with feminists, who accused Mr. Brakhage of objectifying his wife. Penelope Green, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2023 Imagine asking an actor to playfully objectify a female costar. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2024 Can a streaming service objectify a fictional person? Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2023 Victoria’s Secret has made billions selling lingerie designed and marketed through the male gaze—a masculine lens that sexualizes and objectifies women. Paige Hagy, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'objectify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

object entry 1 + -ify

First Known Use

circa 1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of objectify was circa 1837

Dictionary Entries Near objectify

Cite this Entry

“Objectify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/objectify. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on objectify

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