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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Appropriation of surplus labor, objectified in commodities, drove the system. Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025 Despite Martel’s intentions, the video was widely viewed as sexist and misogynistic, with many seeing the women as being objectified by the three male artists. Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 19 Sep. 2025 Women were both empowered and objectified, deemed capable of being in charge but still overtly sexualized. Thessaly La Force, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025 Teenagers today probably objectify others in more politically correct terms. Jay Deitcher, Time, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for objectify

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

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Cite this Entry

“Objectify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/objectify. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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