subjective
/səbˈdʒɛk.tɪv/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Based on personal feelings, opinions, or views, not on facts that everyone agrees on. It often describes judgments that can change from person to person.
- Taste is subjective.
- Her opinion was subjective, not scientific.
- Subjective judgments can differ widely.
Adinary Nuance
Subjective is used when something depends on a person's feelings or point of view. It is different from objective, which means based on facts and not personal opinion. It is also different from personal, which can mean private or individual, but not always opinion-based. Writers often choose subjective when they want to show that a judgment is not neutral.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- chủ quan
- Spanish
- subjetivo
- Chinese
- 主观的
- Japanese
- 主観的な
- Korean
- 주관적인
Etymology
Subjective came into English in the 17th century from Late Latin subjectivus, from subjectus, meaning 'placed under'. Its meaning later changed to describe things shaped by the subject, or the person experiencing them.
Common phrases
subjective opinionsubjective judgmentsubjective experiencehighly subjective
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between subjective and objective?
- Subjective depends on personal views. Objective is based on facts and evidence.
- Is subjective a formal word?
- Yes, it is common in academic and formal writing.
- Can I use subjective in everyday English?
- Yes. People use it when discussing opinions, taste, or judgments.
- Is subjective the same as personal?
- Not exactly. Personal means related to a person, but subjective means based on opinion or feeling.