sub·jec·tive
(ˌ)səb-ˈjek-tiv 
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a subject: such as
a
obsolete
: of, relating to, or characteristic of one that is a subject especially in lack of freedom of action or in submissiveness
b
: being or relating to a grammatical subject
especially
: nominative
2
: of or relating to the essential being of that which has substance, qualities, attributes, or relations
3
a
: characteristic of or belonging to reality as perceived rather than as independent of mind : phenomenal compare objective sense 2a
b
: relating to or being experience or knowledge as conditioned by personal mental characteristics or states
4
b
: arising from conditions within the brain or sense organs and not directly caused by external stimuli
subjective sensations
c
: arising out of or identified by means of one's perception of one's own states and processes
a subjective symptom of disease
compare objective sense 2c
5
: lacking in reality or substance : illusory
subjectively
adverb
subjectiveness
noun
sub·jec·tive
(ˌ)səb-ˈjek-tiv
: something that is subjective
also
: nominative
Examples of subjective in a Sentence
Adjective
Art is never a commodity. Commodities are identical units of sure value—bushels of wheat, say—whose price fluctuates from time to time and place to place. Art works are one-of-a-kind … items, materially worthless, which have in common that a price is asked for them. Their value is entirely subjective.
—
Peter Schjedlahl, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2009
Our perception of loudness is subjective, but sound has an intensity, independent of our hearing, that is measured in decibels (dB).
—Jennifer Barone, Discover, July/August 2009
Science is the study of facts—things that are measurable, testable, repeatable, verifiable. I won't bore you with the inevitable discussion of objective reality and how it's ultimately unknowable because we filter it through our individual subjective realities, I'll cut directly to the chase. Science is about the stuff we can agree on. Rocks are hard, water is wet.
—David Gerrold, Fantasy & Science Fiction, September 2005
Besides, I am not doing this for the anthropology. My aim is nothing so mistily subjective as to "experience poverty" or find out how it "really feels" to be a long-term low-wage worker.
—Barbara Ehrenreich, Harper's, January 1999
Dreaming is a subjective experience.
a person's subjective perception of the world
Personal taste in clothing is very subjective.
In reviewing applicants, we consider both objective criteria, such as test scores, and subjective criteria, such as leadership ability.
Law can be maddeningly subjective. So much is left up to your own interpretation.
Peter Schjedlahl, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2009
Our perception of loudness is subjective, but sound has an intensity, independent of our hearing, that is measured in decibels (dB).
—Jennifer Barone, Discover, July/August 2009
Science is the study of facts—things that are measurable, testable, repeatable, verifiable. I won't bore you with the inevitable discussion of objective reality and how it's ultimately unknowable because we filter it through our individual subjective realities, I'll cut directly to the chase. Science is about the stuff we can agree on. Rocks are hard, water is wet.
—David Gerrold, Fantasy & Science Fiction, September 2005
Besides, I am not doing this for the anthropology. My aim is nothing so mistily subjective as to "experience poverty" or find out how it "really feels" to be a long-term low-wage worker.
—Barbara Ehrenreich, Harper's, January 1999
Dreaming is a subjective experience.
a person's subjective perception of the world
Personal taste in clothing is very subjective.
In reviewing applicants, we consider both objective criteria, such as test scores, and subjective criteria, such as leadership ability.
Law can be maddeningly subjective. So much is left up to your own interpretation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Leadership Brainery, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
That’s also important to remember when evaluating the report’s annual quality of life index, a subjective measure that includes the cost of living but also factors in commute times, pollution, crime, and health care availability.
—Greg McKenna, Fortune, 27 June 2025
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Dec. 2022
Often called the Banksys of financial fudging and the van Goghs of offshoring pre-tax income to foreign countries, these middle-aged white men will nurture your flair for the subjective.
—Meghana Indurti, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for subjective
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Adjective
Recommendation letters remain deeply subjective and often reflect access to elite mentors more than actual ability.
—Leadership Brainery, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
That’s also important to remember when evaluating the report’s annual quality of life index, a subjective measure that includes the cost of living but also factors in commute times, pollution, crime, and health care availability.
—Greg McKenna, Fortune, 27 June 2025
Noun
Given that any critic’s views are by their very nature subjective, the lists that follow don’t claim to be definitive or even directive.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Dec. 2022
Often called the Banksys of financial fudging and the van Goghs of offshoring pre-tax income to foreign countries, these middle-aged white men will nurture your flair for the subjective.
—Meghana Indurti, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for subjective
Cite this Entry
“Subjective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subjective. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
subjective
adjective
sub·jec·tive
(ˌ)səb-ˈjek-tiv
1
a
: relating to or determined by the mind as the subject of experience
subjective reality
b
: characteristic of or belonging to reality as perceived rather than as independent of mind
c
: relating to or being experience or knowledge as conditioned by personal mental characteristics or states
2
a
: arising from conditions within the brain or sense organs and not directly caused by external stimuli
subjective sensations
b
: arising out of or identified by means of one's perception of one's own states and processes and not observable by an examiner
a subjective symptom of disease
caused objective or subjective clinical improvement or both—The Journal of the American Medical Association
compare objective sense 2
The Journal of the American Medical Association
subjectively
adverb
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