Definition of objectify
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
From the M-W Editors
Examples of objectify in a Sentence
She says beauty pageants objectify women.
Recent Examples of objectify from the Web
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First awkward conversation between a father and son objectifying a woman: check.
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After all, when video game companies degrade and objectify women, our family evades screen time and enjoys the real world.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'objectify'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Circa 1837
First Known Use of objectify
circa 1837
OBJECTIFY Defined for English Language Learners
objectify
playDefinition of objectify for English Language Learners
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: to treat (someone) as an object rather than as a person
Learn More about objectify
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