objective

adjective ob·jec·tive \ əb-ˈjek-tiv , äb- \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

Definition of objective

1 a : relating to or existing as an object of thought without consideration of independent existence —used chiefly in medieval philosophy

b : of, relating to, or being an object, phenomenon, or condition in the realm of sensible experience independent of individual thought and perceptible by all observers : having reality independent of the mind

objective reality

… our reveries … are significantly and repeatedly shaped by our transactions with the objective world.
—Marvin Reznikoff

— compare subjective 3a

c of a symptom of disease : perceptible to persons other than the affected individual

objective arthritis

— compare subjective 4c

d : involving or deriving from sense perception or experience with actual objects, conditions, or phenomena

objective awareness

objective data

2 : relating to, characteristic of, or constituting the case of words that follow prepositions or transitive verbs

The pronoun her is in the objective case in the sentence "I saw her."

3 a : expressing or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations

objective art

an objective history of the war

an objective judgment

b of a test : limited to choices of fixed alternatives and reducing subjective factors to a minimum

Each question on the objective test requires the selection of the correct answer from among several choices.

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objectively

adverb

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objectiveness

noun

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objectivity

play \ˌäb-ˌjek-ˈti-və-tē, əb-\ noun

See objective defined for English-language learners

See objective defined for kids

Examples of objective in a Sentence

For no matter how objective Server tries to appear in detailing the highs and lows of her 67 years—the three marriages, the numerous affairs, the binges, the nightlong cruising of low-life byways and bordellos, the mainly poor movies she was in—he cannot really hide his essential fondness for her. —Peter Bogdanovich, New York Times Book Review, 23 Apr. 2006
I'm not going to read the history about it while I'm alive because I don't trust short-term history. Most historians wouldn't have voted for me, so I don't think they can write an objective history. —George W. Bush, quoted in Time, 6 Sept. 2004
"I'm not really a Hollywood person," said Mr. [Clint] Eastwood, who lives mostly in Carmel. "Not that I don't like L.A., but I'm just a Northern California guy. And it's very hard to be objective about what you're doing in a town that's all consumed by the entertainment business." —Bernard Weinraub, New York Times, 6 Aug. 1992
We need someone outside the company to give us an objective analysis.
an objective assessment based solely upon the results of the experiment

Recent Examples of objective from the Web

Properties are selected and ranked based on objective measures such as soil quality and number of developable lots to ensure fairness and transparency.

— The Aegis, "Harford Councilman Shrodes defends ag preservation funding," 9 May 2018
Accounting is very left brain—analytical, logical, objective.

— gordy megroz, Outside Online, "Patch Your Puffy, Save the Planet," 3 May 2018
Randall and Welser insist that their goal is to help depoliticize science, by pushing for more objective, reliable research.

— michael schulson, WIRED, "Science's "Reproducibility Crisis" Is Being Used as Political Ammunition," 20 Apr. 2018
What Freedom House presents us with are the advocacy positions of the Democratic party and the left, not objective, neutral, or bipartisan analysis.

— john fonte, National Review, "Freedom House Turns Partisan," 15 Feb. 2018
There seems to be a seismic shift happening in Washington, D.C., and our government's relationship with facts, scientific reality and objective truth has never been more strained.

— jonathan foley, Scientific American, "The Administration’s War on Facts Is a War on Democracy Itself," 1 May 2017
This makes testing running shoes fundamentally different than testing, say, the thermoregulatory capabilities of different canteens, where an objective metric can be more easily applied.

— martin fritz huber, Outside Online, "Do New "Energy Return" Shoes Put Pep in Your Step?," 18 Apr. 2018
Israel Hayom made no attempt to be an objective source of news.

— gregg carlstrom, Newsweek, "The Fall of Benjamin Netanyahu and the Future of Israel," 15 Mar. 2018
The famous line from Daniel Patrick Moynihan that everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not his own facts breaks down if objective facts are suppressed or unavailable.

— philip bump, Washington Post, "Objective information has less of a place in an intuition-based presidency," 13 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'objective.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of objective

1647

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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objective Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of objective

material, physical, corporeal, phenomenal, sensible, objective mean of or belonging to actuality. material implies formation out of tangible matter; used in contrast with spiritual or ideal it may connote the mundane, crass, or grasping.

- material values

physical applies to what is perceived directly by the senses and may contrast with mental, spiritual, or imaginary.

- the physical benefits of exercise

corporeal implies having the tangible qualities of a body such as shape, size, or resistance to force.

- artists have portrayed angels as corporeal beings

phenomenal applies to what is known or perceived through the senses rather than by intuition or rational deduction.

- scientists concerned with the phenomenal world

sensible stresses the capability of readily or forcibly impressing the senses.

- the earth's rotation is not sensible to us

objective may stress material or independent existence apart from a subject perceiving it.

- no objective evidence of damage

fair, just, equitable, impartial, unbiased, dispassionate, objective mean free from favor toward either or any side. fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

- a fair decision

just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.

- a just settlement of territorial claims

equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned.

- the equitable distribution of the property

impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.

- an impartial third party

unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.

- your unbiased opinion

dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.

- a dispassionate summation of the facts

objective stresses a tendency to view events or persons as apart from oneself and one's own interest or feelings.

- I can't be objective about my own child

objective

noun ob·jec·tive \ əb-ˈjek-tiv , äb- \

Definition of objective

1 : a lens or system of lenses that forms an image of an object

2 a : something toward which effort is directed : an aim, goal, or end of action

b : a strategic position to be attained or a purpose to be achieved by a military operation

See objective defined for English-language learners

Examples of objective in a Sentence

The first objective of the low-intensity war was to "bleed" India so that it would cut its losses and quit. —Pervez Hoodbhoy, Prospect, June 2003
The Orange Plan assumed an early Japanese capture of the Philippines, and made relief of the Philippines the main U.S. objective. —David M. Kennedy, Atlantic, March 1999
The President had largely stuck to his publicly stated goals—though the objective of smashing Iraq's military machine hadn't been so clear. —Elizabeth Drew, New Yorker, 6 May 1991
… their primary objective is not the enrollment of new voters but changing the party affiliation of old voters … —Lawrence King, Commonweal, 9 Oct. 1970
The main objective of the class is to teach basic typing skills.
She's expanding the business with the objective of improving efficiency.
We've set specific objectives for each day.

Recent Examples of objective from the Web

No previous contact has been made, according to reports, with the English side respecting the fact that Allegri is still trying to carry out his objectives for the club.

— SI.com, "Arsenal Narrow Down Shortlist of Potential Arsene Wenger Replacements to 'Select Group'," 10 May 2018
The two nations backed forces in Iraq that cooperated in the fight against Islamic State, but their political objectives appear increasingly at odds.

— isabel coles and, WSJ, "Iran-Backed Militias Seek Political Sway in Iraq," 10 May 2018
But no one succeeded in stopping Trump from pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord to achieve the same objective.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trumpism Is Having Its Best Week Ever," 10 May 2018
His 30-second ad that is airing on local TV addresses both those objectives.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Public health scientist hopes to take his activism to Congress," 9 May 2018
Alaska Airlines has already achieved a second major objective – that is replacing its 737-400 Combi (cargo + passenger) planes with three freight-only 737-700s.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Meet the Alaskans building your improved travel experience," 8 May 2018
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the British objective will remain to uphold and maintain the deal.

— josh lederman and catherine lucey, The Christian Science Monitor, "Trump pulls US out of Iran nuclear deal," 8 May 2018
However, after losing to Notre Dame Prep, the No. 7 team in the nation according to US Lacrosse Magazine, the Gladiators did create a second, smaller objective.

— kyle stackpole, Howard County Times, "Glenelg girls lacrosse wins second straight county title," 5 May 2018
But the presentation may have had another objective as well: to amplify Trump’s view that the Iran intends to restart a nuclear weapons program after some restrictions on enriching uranium begin to expire in 2025.

— brian bennett, Time, "White House Has Known for Weeks About Israel's Stolen Iran Documents," 3 May 2018

First Known Use of objective

1835

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

objective Synonyms

Synonyms

aim, ambition, aspiration, design, dream, end, goal, idea, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing;

Near Antonyms

means, method, way;

Related Words

grail, holy grail;

plot, project, scheme;

desire, hope, mind, wish;

nirvana;

destination, terminus;

Phrases

name of the game;

Synonym Discussion of objective

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain. intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

- announced his intention to marry

intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

- the clear intent of the statute

purpose suggests a more settled determination.

- being successful was her purpose in life

design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

- the order of events came by accident, not design

aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

- her aim was to raise film to an art form

end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

- willing to use any means to achieve his end

object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

- his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

- their objective is to seize the oil fields

goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

- worked years to reach her goals

OBJECTIVE Defined for English Language Learners

objective

adjective

Definition of objective for English Language Learners

: based on facts rather than feelings or opinions : not influenced by feelings
philosophy : existing outside of the mind : existing in the real world
grammar : relating to nouns, noun phrases, or pronouns that are the objects of verbs or prepositions

objective

noun

Definition of objective for English Language Learners

: something you are trying to do or achieve : a goal or purpose

OBJECTIVE Defined for Kids

objective

adjective ob·jec·tive \ əb-ˈjek-tiv \

Definition of objective for Students

1 : dealing with facts without allowing personal feelings to confuse them

an objective report

2 : being or belonging to the case of a noun or pronoun that is an object of a transitive verb or a preposition

3 : being outside of the mind and independent of it

—

objectively

adverb

objective

noun

Definition of objective for Students

: purpose, goal Before you begin the experiment, state your objective.

Medical Dictionary

objective

adjective ob·jec·tive \ əb-ˈjek-tiv, äb- \

medical Definition of objective

1 : of, relating to, or being an object, phenomenon, or condition in the realm of sensible experience independent of individual thought and perceptible by all observers

objective reality

2 : perceptible to persons other than the affected individual

an objective symptom of disease

— compare subjective 2b

—

objectively

adverb

objective

noun

medical Definition of objective

1 : a lens or system of lenses that forms an image of an object

2 : something toward which effort is directed

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See words that rhyme with objective Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for objective Spanish Central: Translation of objective Nglish: Translation of objective for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of objective for Arabic speakers

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objectiveness

objectivity

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objective

Definition of objective

Examples of objective in a Sentence

Recent Examples of objective from the Web

First Known Use of objective

objective Synonyms

Synonyms

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OBJECTIVE Defined for English Language Learners

objective

Definition of objective for English Language Learners

objective

Definition of objective for English Language Learners

OBJECTIVE Defined for Kids

objective

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objectively

objective

Definition of objective for Students

Medical Dictionary

objective

medical Definition of objective

objectively

objective

medical Definition of objective

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