objective
/əbˈdʒek.tɪv/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Based on facts, not personal feelings or opinions. An objective person or statement tries to be fair and neutral.
- We need an objective review of the report.
- Try to stay objective during the discussion.
noun
A goal or result you want to achieve. In school, work, or projects, it often means the main aim.
- Our main objective is to reduce costs.
- The training has three objectives.
Adinary Nuance
Objective is stronger and more formal than fair or unbiased. Use it when you want to show something is based on facts, not feelings. As a noun, it means a goal; that is different from the adjective use, which describes a way of judging.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- khách quan
- Spanish
- objetivo
- Chinese
- 客观
- Japanese
- 客観的
- Korean
- 객관적인
Etymology
Objective came into English from French in the late 14th century, ultimately from Latin obiectivus and obiectum, meaning “something thrown before.” The idea of something set out before you connects to its modern meaning of a clear goal or a fact-based view.
Common phrases
objective viewobjective evidencemain objectiveobjective assessment
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is objective formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal. You will see it often in academic, business, and news writing.
- What is the difference between objective and subjective?
- Objective means based on facts. Subjective means based on personal feelings or opinions.
- Can objective be a noun?
- Yes. As a noun, objective means a goal or target.
- How do I use objective in a sentence?
- You can say, “We need an objective opinion,” or “Our objective is to improve sales.”