subjective

adjective sub·jec·tive \ (ˌ)səb-ˈjek-tiv \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Examples: subjective in a Sentence

Definition of subjective

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 1b

b : relating to or being experience or knowledge as conditioned by personal mental characteristics or states

4 a (1) : peculiar to a particular individual : personal

subjective judgments

(2) : modified or affected by personal views, experience, or background

a subjective account of the incident

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 1c

5 : lacking in reality or substance : illusory

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subjectively

adverb

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subjectiveness

noun

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subjectivity

play \(ˌ)səb-ˌjek-ˈti-və-tē\ noun

See subjective defined for English-language learners

See subjective defined for kids

Examples of subjective in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of subjective from the Web

The idea of beauty is subjective, but for far too long, beauty standards in America have alienated people of various gender identities, sizes, and ethnicities, leaving them to feel stigmatized or unattractive.

— leanna burton, Teen Vogue, "Modeling Agency Zandwagon Is Changing the Industry's Restrictive Beauty Standards," 22 June 2018
At an art museum, the value of the work is subjective.

— kevin dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "Unseen Oceans: How the American Museum of Natural History Builds a New Exhibit," 21 June 2018
The problem was there were no reporting standards on energy reserves, and the producers’ own views were subjective, Mr. Stensland said.

— justin baer, WSJ, "The Arms Race for Quants Comes to the World’s Biggest Asset Managers," 21 June 2018
Greatest Growth For starters, labeling a single economic era as the greatest in history is subjective because there’s no agreed-upon metric.

— Fortune, "Sorry, President Trump, But the Best Economy Was Eisenhower's," 7 June 2018
But what is fair or unfair in sports is, to a degree, subjective.

— lori riley, courant.com, "Coaches, Parents Question Policy For High School Transgender Athletes," 5 June 2018
Among ultramarathoners, the Barkley is considered one of the hardest -- a superlative that is subjective, of course.

— david g. allan, CNN, "The infamous murderer's prison escape that inspired a near-impossible ultramarathon," 26 May 2018
The effectiveness of its execution is, of course, subjective.

— michele corriston, PEOPLE.com, "13 Reasons Why Actor Derek Luke Says Controversial Show Helps Kids 'Connect'," 24 May 2018
Also, seizures are not subjective symptoms like pain or nausea that critics may be skeptical of.

— c. michael white, Philly.com, "What Jeff Sessions doesn't understand about medical marijuana," 12 Jan. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of subjective

see ¹subject

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

subjective Synonyms

subjective

noun sub·jec·tive \ (ˌ)səb-ˈjek-tiv \

Definition of subjective

: something that is subjective; also : nominative

Origin and Etymology of subjective

see ¹subject

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1817

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

SUBJECTIVE Defined for English Language Learners

subjective

adjective

Definition of subjective for English Language Learners

philosophy : relating to the way a person experiences things in his or her own mind
: based on feelings or opinions rather than facts
grammar : relating to nouns, noun phrases, or pronouns that are the subjects of verbs