objective

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

Updated on: 19 Nov 2017

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.

—

objectively

adverb

—

objectiveness

noun

—

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

McCurry’s photographs serve as a powerful and objective visual record of all that transpired during that fateful month in 1986.

— steve mccurry, National Geographic, "Photos of a Dictator's Peaceful Downfall, 30 Years On," 8 May 2016
In the absence of an objective measure of children's views, NBC News conducted its own unscientific survey in nine countries around the world: China, South Korea, Russia, Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Poland.

— petra cahill, NBC News, "Children Worldwide View Trump Through Lens of U.S.‘Soft Power’," 3 Nov. 2017
This poses a serious problem, particularly when given the common perception that AI is somehow objective or scientific.

— navneet alang, New Republic, "Turns Out Algorithms Are Racist," 31 Aug. 2017
In 2016, a computer program designed to judge human beauty using supposedly objective features in photographs – like facial symmetry and wrinkles -- was found to heavily favor people with light skin.

— jeremy kahn, Bloomberg.com, "Black AI Workshop Becomes Latest Flashpoint in Tech’s Culture War," 20 Oct. 2017
One of the most objective ways to see which higher education institution is worth attending is by seeing how much its students make after graduating.

— fernando ramirez, Houston Chronicle, "Houston's best colleges, determined by alumni salary," 23 Oct. 2017
To get our best relationship tips delivered to you inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter Neurotic people, for example, tend to interpret their partners’ behavior more negatively than objective observers do, says Salvatore.

— Health.com, "Is Divorce Hereditary? Here's How Your Genes May Be Partially to Blame," 5 Oct. 2017
Unfortunately, astrology is an objective pursuit that requires lots of memorization and study, and your interpretations are only as clear as your head.

— jessica lanyadoo, Glamour, "An Astrologer Explains Why You Shouldn't Look at Your Crush's Chart," 26 Oct. 2017
While sharing the same objective vis-à-vis Iran, the two camps differ on the strategy for preventing such an outcome and thus favor divergent paths to reestablish American leverage.

— matthew rj brodsky, National Review, "The Conservative Politics of the Iran Deal," 11 Oct. 2017

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

objective Synonyms

Synonyms

existential, experiential, experimental, empirical, observational

Antonyms

nonempirical, theoretical (also theoretic), unempirical

Related Words

actual, factual, genuine, hard, material, real; accepted, established, tried, tried-and-true; indisputable, undeniable; demonstrable, provable, verifiable

Near Antonyms

conjectural, hypothetical, speculative; unproven, unsubstantiated; metaphysical, transcendentalist, visionary

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

Competition breeds points The idea is to move your agenda forward and foil other players, but Hidden Agenda’s self-serious plot isn’t a great match for those kinds of party game objectives.

— steven strom, Ars Technica, "Hidden Agenda review: Police procedural party time," 30 Oct. 2017
Brett Olson, Head of Fixed Income iShares in EMEA, explains how institutions can identify new tools and strategies to achieve investment objectives at the Bloomberg Invest ETF London summit at Bloomberg headquarters in London.

— Bloomberg, "Markets On Demand," 5 Oct. 2017
When asked what Inter's objectives for this season are, the Portuguese star was unsure of what his team were aiming for.

— SI.com, "Joao Mario Praises Inter Manager Luciano Spalletti Ahead of Milan Derby," 8 Oct. 2017
After months of preparation, the team finally reached their objective.

— National Geographic, "Inside the Daring Mission That Thwarted a Nazi Atomic Bomb," 5 June 2016
The intensive management population objective for the Fortymile Herd is currently 50,000 to 100,000 caribou.

— vic van ballenberghe, Alaska Dispatch News, "Killing predators isn’t always wise game management," 16 July 2017
The #FreedomForGirls campaign is promoting the UN's Global Goals, an ambitious set of objectives for what the world should look like by 2030.

— shay maunz, Glamour, "This Video of Young Girls Dancing To Beyoncé's 'Freedom' Will Give You Chills," 10 Oct. 2017
There’s more work to be done in terms of the scope and the design objectives.

— sara cardine, La Cañada Valley Sun, "La Cañada school board candidates talk master plan, student wellness in community forum," 4 Oct. 2017
John's Crazy Socks marketing objectives are simple: Give inspiration and hope to people with disabilities by showing what is possible.

— shirley macfarland, cleveland.com, ""Socks" Down syndrome entrepreneur smashes stereotypes of what people with disabilities can achieve.," 3 Nov. 2017

First Known Use of objective

1835

objective Synonyms

Synonyms

aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne (also bourn), design, dream, end, idea, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, goal, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing

Related Words

grail, holy grail; plot, project, scheme; desire, hope, mind, wish; nirvana; destination, terminus

Near Antonyms

means, method, way

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

Learn More about objective

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up objective? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

objective

Definition of objective

objectively

objectiveness

objectivity

Explore M-W

Examples of objective in a Sentence

Recent Examples of objective from the Web

First Known Use of objective

objective Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of objective

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

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of objective

Phrases Related to OBJECTIVE

Related Phrases

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

Definition of objective for Students

objectively

objective

Definition of objective for Students

Medical Dictionary

objective

medical Definition of objective

objectively

objective

medical Definition of objective

Learn More about objective

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Accidental' vs. 'Incidental'

The Over and Under of It

Trending: "Happily Gentrifying" Denver Cafe Faces Rebuke

November 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Words of the Year: 1066